February 2, 2026 News@CountryAircheck.com

Quad Cities DJs: 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.

Cumulus is no longer a subscriber in diary markets.

Beaumont, TX (146)	KYKR iHeartMedia 6.1 (4) - 7.4 (3) - 6.1 (2) KAYD Cumulus 1.9 (8) - 1.3 (8t) - N/A
Killeen, TX (128)	KUSJ Townsquare 4.8 (4) - 4.9 (3t) - 5.3 (4) Largest share since Spring 2022.
Montgomery, AL (152)	WBAM Bluewater 5.0 (6) - 4.7 (5t) - 3.9 (6) WQKS HD4 Bluewater Cl. Country 2.6 (11t) - 2.2 (12t) - 1.6 (9) WLWI Cumulus 5.6 (5) - 3.8 (7) - N/A
Peoria, IL (155)	WXCL Midwest 7.7 (2) - 6.5 (2t) - 6.0 (4t) WFYR Cumulus 2.1 (13t) - 2.6 (10t) - N/A
Quad Cities, IA-IL (153)	WLLR iHeartMedia 11.4 (1) - 12.5 (1) - 12.6 (1) 52nd consecutive No. 1. KIIK Townsquare 1.8 (11) - 1.5 (12) - 1.1 (13t)
Salisbury, MD (127)	WWFG iHeartMedia 9.3 (1) - 6.1 (1) - 4.9 (3) WRDE Draper Media 1.4 (11t) - 1.3 (12t) - 2.3 (9t)
Savannah, GA (134)	WJCL Cumulus 3.8 (8) - 5.4 (6) - N/A WUBB Dick Broadcasting Does not subscribe.
Springfield, MO (131)	KTTS SummitMedia 8.3 (1) - 7.9 (1) - 7.7 (2) KWTO Zimmer Classic Country 4.3 (8t) - 6.7 (3t) - 4.0 (7t) KSWF iHeartMedia 3.7 (10t) - 4.4 (6t) - 3.7 (9t) KOMG Mid-West Family Cl. Country 2.0 (14t) - 1.3 (17t) - 1.9 (16)

No LeGretts: Former iHeartSports Pres. Kevin LeGrett has joined Beasley Media Group as Chief Business Officer. He will work closely with COO Brian Beasley to unify the company’s business operations, and align revenue strategy, cross-platform partnerships and digital growth. LeGrett had been with iHeart in various roles since 2010, and previously was Pres. at Citadel Broadcasting.

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That Sommer: Former Cumulus/Ventura, CA VP/MM Sommer Frisk has joined Connoisseur Media as MM for Palm Springs, CA (including KDES), and Regional Mgr. overseeing the company's stations in Salt Lake City and Alaska (including KBRJ and Classic Country KAYO/Anchorage). She has more than 25 years of experience in the broadcast and media industry.

In The Loop: iHeartMedia's Nashville-based VP/Client Success Shanna Griffin has departed to join streaming TV and digital video advertising platform JamLoop as VP/Sales Success. She had been with iHeart in various roles since 2017, including three years in her most recent position, and had a previous stint with the company from 2012-2016.

Highway 101: The Core Records GM Jon Borris has been named Head/Music of 101 Studios, where he will oversee the company's new music label. As part of its expansion, 101 has partnered with Nashville-based Thirty Tigers for marketing, distribution and additional label services. Borris joined The Core from Republic in 2024 (CAT 9/25/24); reach him here.

On A Roll: Jelly Roll took home three trophies at last night's (2/1) Grammy Awards, including the newly renamed Best Contemporary Album for Beautifully Broken. He recalled "a time in my life that I was broken. That’s why I wrote this album," adding, “I believed that music had the power to change my life and God had the power to change my life. Jesus is for everybody. Jesus is not owned by one political party."

Mr. Roll also picked up Country Duo/Group Performance with Shaboozey for "Amen" and Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for his and Brandon Lake's "Hard Fought Hallelujah. Additional country winners included Zach Top, who won the inaugural Traditional Country Album for Ain't In It For My Health, Chris Stapleton's "Bad As I Used To Be" (Country Solo Performance) and Tyler Childers' "Bitin' List" (Best Country Song). Full list here.

Rebel With A Cause: JVC Broadcasting Classic Country WWLY/Panama City, FL has relaunched in the same format as WRXB, repositioned from "Wild Willie 100.1" to "Rebel Radio 100.1," and playing music "from '70s classics to '90s country legends — plus rare live recordings you won’t hear anywhere else." PD Randy Gardner says, "This station launches with close to 3,000 songs ... [and] pulls from the roots, the legends, the anthems and the modern classics—all without beating the same songs into the ground.” JVC purchased the station from Magic Broadcasting last summer (CAT 6/25/25). Listen here.

Lead On: The Nashville-based Leadership Music program for established industry leaders is accepting applications through Feb. 27 for its class of 2027. Applicants from radio are particularly encouraged. The in-person, eight-month program begins with an opening retreat in October 2026, followed by six all-day program sessions held monthly, concluding with graduation in May 2027. Find the application, program dates and FAQs here.

Mic Drop: Applications for the Whitney Allen “Hot Mic” Scholarship close today (2/2). Established by the retired Country Radio Hall of Famer, the scholarship provides a female on-air personality full registration to CRS 2026, along with round-trip airfare to Nashville and accommodations at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Eligible applicants must have one to five years of experience in the radio industry, serve in a primary on-air role and be a first-time CRS attendee. Apply here by the end of the day.

Tour Support: Post Malone and Jelly Roll Present: The Big Ass Stadium Tour Part 2 will hit college football stadiums in Iowa, Texas, Utah, Alabama and more this summer. Joining on all dates is Carter Faith; tickets here Feb. 10.

The Cody Johnson Live 26 tour begins this weekend (Feb. 6-7) with back-to-back shows at Birmingham’s Legacy Arena at The BJCC. Joining him on select dates are Clint Black, Randy Houser, Scotty McCreery, Kip Moore, Ian Munsick, Jon Pardi, Drew Baldridge, Chayce Beckham, Carter Faith, Alexandra Kay, Walker Montgomery and Emily Ann Roberts. Tickets and schedule here.

Ella Langley kicks off The Dandelion Tour May 7 in Toledo, OH, before stopping in cities including St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Austin and, finally, Fort Worth Aug. 15. The tour's lineup includes Kameron Marlowe, Dylan Marlowe, Kaitlin Butts, Gabriella Rose and Laci Kaye Booth. Tickets here Friday (2/6).

Build A Better Vote: Final round voting for the 2026 CRS/Country Aircheck Awards is underway here through Thursday (2/5). All votes – one per customer – must have a valid industry email address. (Seriously. Randos get tossed!) Winners will be announced during the New Faces Of Country Music Show at CRS 2026. Vote here now!

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for the week ending Jan. 31, according to Mediabase 24/7.

HARDY/Favorite Country Song (Big Loud)
GEORGE BIRGE/It Won't Be Long (Records Nashville)
ELLA LANGLEY/Choosin' Texas (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers)
JASON ALDEAN/How Far Does A Goodbye Go (Macon Music/Broken Bow)
SHABOOZEY & JELLY ROLL/Amen (Empire/Magnolia/Stoney Creek)

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for Feb. 1, compared with the same day last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.

HUDSON WESTBROOK/House Again (River House/Warner/WAR) +1199 points
LUKE COMBS/Sleepless In A Hotel Room (Columbia) +712 points
HARDY f/E. CHURCH, M. WALLEN & T. MCGRAW/McArthur (Big Loud) +374 points
BAILEY ZIMMERMAN/Chevy Silverado (Atlantic/Warner/WRN) +276 points
MEGHAN PATRICK/Golden Child (Riser House) +263 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (2/3): Kassi Ashton, Matraca Berg, Jessica Harp, Lane Turner, Tim Riley, Branden Bosler.

Hot Topic: River House/Warner/WAR’s Hudson Westbrook and Santa Anna/Akando's Tyler Nance play night four of five of KWJJ/Portland, OR's Hot Country Nights. Pictured (l-r) are the station's Danny Dwyer, River House's Lance Houston, Akando's Greg Raneiri, Nance, Westbrook and the station's Nick Steele and Kristen Flowers.

Nobody Et Tu: Wheelhouse's Blake Shelton wraps the first round of his Las Vegas residency shows at Caesars Palace. Pictured (l-r) are Music Choice's Jim Murphy, Shelton, Angie Murphy and the label's Ken Tucker.

Suffolks: Galaxy's LoCash with the WWWF/Nassau-Suffolk team. Pictured (standing, l-r) are the station's Andrew Blitz, the duo's Chris Lucas, the station's Kelly Ford and Kristin Okesson, the duo's Preston Brust and the station's Robby Bridges and Marissa Stravino; (front, l-r) the station's Patrick Shea and the label's Mitch Mills.

What Tastemakes You Country: MCA's Luke Bryan welcomes "industry tastemaker" Kelly Sutton to American Idol. Sutton's episode, where she will send a contestant through to the next round, airs in March.