April 30, 2026 News@CountryAircheck.com

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Crescent City Crush: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for March 2026 (three-month rolling average, 1/8-4/1/26) compared with January and February. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Baton Rouge (Market 78)	WYNK iHeartMedia 6.0 (1) - 4.7 (3) - 5.4 (1) WTGE Guaranty Does not subscribe.
Louisville (58)	WAMZ iHeartMedia 6.1 (1) - 5.7 (2) - 6.2 (2) WQNU SummitMedia 3.7 (12) - 4.0 (12) - 3.1 (11) WRKA SummitMedia Cl. Country 1.1 (20) - 1.6 (16) - 1.6 (13t) Switched from Urban AC to Classic Country on July 14 (CAT 7/14/25).
New Orleans (50)	WNOE iHeartMedia 4.7 (5) - 5.1 (4) - 6.2 (4) Largest share since Spring 2013.
Oklahoma City (49)	KTST iHeartMedia 4.9 (5) - 5.0 (3) - 5.7 (2) KXXY iHeartMedia Classic Country 3.0 (7t) - 3.0 (5) - 2.9 (4) KJKE Tyler Does not subscribe.

Quartz Hill's Robinson & Rider Depart: Quartz Hill Music Group VP/Promotion Will Robinson and Dir./Promotion April Rider have exited after six years. Robinson joined the company shortly after its launch, rising to VP in 2022 (Breaking News 1/14/2022). "It was great to grow from a regional to a VP under April's tutelage, and I look forward to bringing that experience elsewhere," Robinson says. His prior stops include 19th & Grand, Reviver, IRS, WQYK/Tampa and WFRE/Frederick, MD; reach him here.

Rider joined Quartz Hill and Brown Sellers Brown Management as VPP upon their launch (Breaking News 10/12/2020), and was elevated to SVPP concurrent to Robinson's promotion. She recently shifted to a special projects role while caring for an ailing parent. Her prior stops include RPM Entertainment, Stoney Creek and Curb. Reach her here.

“We appreciate all that April and Will have done for us and for our artists over the years," says QHMG President/Founder Benny Brown. "We wish them nothing but the best going forward. As our internal restructuring continues, we do not anticipate filling those positions but will be making other hiring announcements shortly."

Valenzuela Moves On: Audacy/San Diego & Riverside SVP/MM Michael Valenzuela is leaving the company, where his oversight included KSON/San Diego and KFRG/Riverside. He's expected to announce his move into the events industry May 4. "After 24 incredible years, I have made the difficult decision to leave Audacy," he posted on Facebook. "Please know this was my decision, made with a full heart and a clear mind. I leave proud of everything we accomplished and genuinely excited for what comes next." Valenzuela joined then-CBS Radio/Riverside in 2001 and was upped from VP/DOS to SVP/MM in 2015 (CAT 7/23/15), adding those same duties for the San Diego cluster in 2021 (CAT 8/23/21). No word on plans for the position.

Music Maven: As expected, newly-named Steel City KBEQ/Kansas City morning host Codie Allen has added MD duties, with PD Dale Carter telling Country Aircheck, "She's smart, has a lot of experience in the format, and she's well-respected." Formerly APD/MD/morning co-host at crosstown WDAF, Allen joined KBEQ for mornings April 1 (CAT 4/1). Reach her here.

Gig Alert: A "battle‑tested" PD for Country WKKO and cluster OM for Cumulus/Toledo is being sought in the wake of Jerry Mac's departure (CAT 4/28). The job requires "5+ years of winning PD experience, a genuine love of coaching and making talent better, killer writing skills and strong creative instincts, next‑level people skills, a desire to still do a show, big ideas, high standards and the ability to execute." Salary range is $70k-$85k. See the posting and apply here. Reach Mac here.

Marching In: Here are March Eastlan Ratings for Country stations in the three Nielsen PPM markets for which Cumulus no longer subscribes, compared with February. Shares and cumes are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Atlanta
WKHX Cumulus: 4.0 share (-0.2); 497,200 cume (-20,600)
WUBL iHeartMedia: 3.8 share (-0.2); 569,000 cume (+12,000)

Dallas
KPLX Cumulus: 5.8 share (-0.1); 1,049,200 cume (+46,100)
KSCS Cumulus: 4.9 share (-0.1); 888,200 cume (+24,300)

Memphis
WGKX Cumulus: 5.3 share (even); 118,800 cume (-10,300)
WLFP Audacy: 3.8 share (+0.6); 113,200 cume (+10,700)
WEBL N. Mississippi Media: 2.1 share (-0.3); 87,800 cume (-4,800)

Tour Support: Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan's Double Down Tour 2026 has added four shows following their UGA Sanford Stadium show last week (4/25). They will play in Missoula, MT Aug. 1, San Diego Aug. 16, Washington, DC Aug. 20 and Las Vegas Dec. 11. Joining on select dates are Gavin Adcock, Dasha, Chase Matthew, Jon Pardi, Dylan Scott and Lauren Watkins. Tickets go on sale May 8 here.

Drew Baldridge's 14-date Farm Faith Family Tour kicks off June 11 in Omaha, NE and wraps Oct. 18 in Newport Beach, CA. Alyssa Flaherty and Chase Right will provide support; ticket info here.

Bits & Pieces: Reba McEntire will be presented the Music Heals Golden Ukulele and RIAA's Mitch Glazier with the Leadership in Music Golden Ukulele during Musicians On Call's Music Heals Live! at The Pinnacle in Nashville May 20. The night will also feature performances by Vince Gill, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. Anyone interested in attending can bid their way in for a VIP experience.

Opry NextStage members Willow Avalon, Graham Barham, Tyler Braden, Carter Faith, Alexandra Kay, Emily Ann Roberts and Jake Worthington will perform June 3 at Nashville's Category 10. Tickets here.

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

Country Aircheck Weekly dives into the ongoing Nielsen/Cumulus standoff.
iHeartMedia/Kentucky VPP Nathan Nelson added PD duties for WAMZ/Louisville & WBUL/Lexington. (4/29)
Cumulus/Toledo OM Jerry Mac departed. (4/28)
Avery Anna was named ACM New Female Artist of the Year. (4/27)
Zach Dillon added afternoons at KEEY/Minneapolis, succeeding Mike "Muss" Mussman.
Chronicle: Cliff Downs.

ICYMI: iHeartMedia, Nielsen and TikTok are among the media and communication companies selected for the 2026 TIME100 Companies: Industry Leaders list. Read more on those companies here; see the full list here.

Chronicle: David Allan Coe died April 29 of undisclosed causes at the age of 86. After spending time in prison, Coe released his appropriately-titled debut album, Penitentiary Blues, via Plantation Records in 1970, going on to record for Columbia for more than a decade. His songwriting credits include Johnny Paycheck's "Take This Job And Shove It" and Tanya Tucker's "Would You Lay With Me (In A Field Of Stone)." His biggest hits as an artist include "The Ride," "Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile," "Longhaired Redneck," "She Used To Love Me A Lot" and a 1975 cover of Steve Goodman’s and John Prine’s “You Never Even Called Me By My Name.” No word on services.

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for April 29, according to Mediabase.

LUKE COMBS/Sleepless In A Hotel Room (Columbia) 4791 points
CODY JOHNSON/The Fall (CoJo/Warner/WRN) 3682 points
TUCKER WETMORE/Brunette (Back Blocks/Mercury) 3661 points
RILEY GREEN/Change My Mind (Nash. Harbor) 3365 points
JORDAN DAVIS/Turn This Truck Around (MCA) 3111 points

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for April 26-29, compared with the same days last week, according to Mediabase.

ELLA LANGLEY & MORGAN WALLEN/I Can't Love You Anymore (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers) +3358 points
LUKE COMBS/Sleepless In A Hotel Room (Columbia) +1538 points
KANE BROWN/Woman (RCA) +1115 points
TUCKER WETMORE/Brunette (Back Blocks/Mercury) +989 points
LUKE COMBS/Be By You (Columbia) +831 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (5/1): Tim McGraw, Helen Darling, Rita Coolidge, Carrie Long, Chris Schuler, Rob Stone, Louie Newman, Tanya Welch, the late Lindsay Walleman, the late Ilene Berns.

Be Here: Col. NY/Triple Tigers' Ella Langley in Tuscaloosa, AL for Morgan Wallen's Still The Problem Tour. Pictured (l-r) are the label's Blake Nixon, WGKX/Memphis' Derrill "Argo" Jr. and Beth Argo, Langley, WLFP/Memphis' Erin Austin and Chris Michaels and WDXB/Birmingham & WDRM/Huntsville's Dino Conard.

No Caller ID Or WiFi: Columbia's Megan Moroney discusses raw dogging an 18-hour flight, what album changed her life, why she rehearses in a weighted vest and more on Netflix's Bobby Bones Presents: The Bobbycast.

Wholly Trinity: Warner/CoJo/WMN’s Cody Johnson talks Stagecoach, Banks Of The Trinity and more with Country Heat Weekly's Kelly Sutton (l) and Amber Anderson.