November 12, 2024 News@CountryAircheck.com

Toad-al Wave: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for October 2024 (three-month rolling average, 7/18-10/9) compared with August and September. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Albuquerque, NM (Market 72)	KRST Cumulus 4.2 (7) - 4.2 (6) - 4.9 (2t) Largest share since May 2023. KBQI iHeartMedia 3.4 (10) - 3.1 (10) - 3.5 (9) KBQI-HD2 iHeartMedia Cl. Ctry. 2.2 (17) - 3.0 (11t) - 2.9 (12t)
Allentown, PA (75)	WCTO Cumulus 8.7 (3) - 7.6 (3) - 7.4 (3)
El Paso, TX (77)	KHEY iHeartMedia 5.9 (5) - 5.8 (5) - 6.4 (4) Largest share since June 2022.
Fresno, CA (68)	KSKS Cumulus 3.4 (8) - 3.9 (8) - 3.7 (7t) KHGE iHeartMedia 2.1 (12) - 2.0 (13t) - 2.1 (13)
Knoxville, TN (70)	WIVK Cumulus 12.3 (1) - 12.0 (1) - 13.4 (1) Largest share since Dec. 2022. WCYQ SummitMedia 4.4 (6) - 4.7 (6) - 4.1 (6t) WDKW Midwest Classic Country 2.8 (8) - 2.8 (8t) - 1.9 (11)
Wilkes-Barre, PA (80)	WGGY Audacy 6.9 (3) - 7.1 (3) - 8.0 (2t) Largest share since Oct. 2019. WSJR Cumulus 1.4 (11t) - 1.3 (13t) - 1.2 (12)

Free To Be Three: In a letter to clients obtained by Country Aircheck, Nielsen has detailed updates to PPM methodology taking effect with the January 2025 survey, which starts Jan. 9. Qualifying for listening credit will decrease from five minutes per quarter hour to three. Nielsen estimates 45% of PPM listening occasions are currently shorter than five minutes and the change will lead to market-level AQH audience growth of 24% across all PPM markets. Additionally, the company says the move will "allow broadcasters to experiment with the length, quantity and placement of commercial stop sets to maximize tune-in." Diary markets will continue with the five-minute threshold as few diaries contain listening occasions shorter than five minutes.

Salisbury Break: iHeartMedia/Salisbury, MD Market Pres. Katie Ewell adds those duties for the company's five-station Wilmington, DE cluster, including WDSD. The six-station Salisbury cluster, which she continues to oversee, includes WWFG. Prior to her Market Pres. role, Ewell was VP/Sales for iHeart/Salisbury. She reports to iHeartMedia Mid-Atlantic Area Pres. Brit Goldstein.

Cumulus' Hurley Departs: Cumulus WKOS & Classic Rock WQUT/Johnson City, TN PD Don Hurley has departed. The position is posted here. Hurley joined the cluster two years ago (CAT 7/25/22) following roles with Bicoastal/Medford, OR and Saga/Bellingham, WA. Prior stops include San Diego; Binghamton, NY; Flint, MI and Las Vegas. Reach him here.

Familie Tradition: Manager Emma Kyes has joined The Familie along with client Sadie Bass, who has been added to the company's artist roster. "[Emma's] drive and commitment are simply extraordinary," says EVP/Music Royce Risser. Adds Kyes, "Can't wait to launch Sadie to the moon – time to work." Kyes has experience in both artist and tour management, and Bass competed on season 22 of NBC's The Voice.

Grow Up To Be Cowboys And Dreamers: George Strait will receive the 2024 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award following a multi-artist tribute performance during the 58th Annual CMA Awards, airing live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Nov. 20 on ABC. Previous recipients include Nelson (2012), Kenny Rogers (2013), Johnny Cash (2015), Dolly Parton (2016), Kris Kristofferson (2019), Charley Pride (2020), Loretta Lynn (2021) and Alan Jackson (2022).

Reve-News: Live Nation reported revenue of $7.7 billion for Q3, off 6% from the previous year's $8.2b. Adjusted operating income was $909.8 million, a 4% increase from last year's $871.2. Operating income was off 2% from $653.7 to $639.5m. Concert profitability was up 39% to $474m from last year's $340.9m. Ticketmaster had revenue of $694m (-17%) and income of $236m (-33%). Through October, 144 million tickets have been sold this year. "We wrapped up our most active summer concert season ever, our show pipeline has never been bigger, and brand sponsorships are accelerating," says Pres./CEO Michael Rapino. Full release here.

Un Accepted: In light of recent radio chain layoffs, CRS 25 has announced its annual "unemployment rate" earlier than usual. The $299 rate is available for those who've lost employment since the last CRS, and wish to attend the Feb. 19-21 event at the Omni Nashville Hotel. New Faces of Country Music Show access is not included. Register for the rate here by Jan. 17. The CRS 2025 agenda will include several professional advancement sessions focused on recognizing transferable skills and assets, as well as monetizing radio strengths for opportunities beyond the industry.

Tour Support: Ian Munsick's 18-city Horses are Faster Tour kicks off Jan. 24 in St. Louis. Joining him on select dates are Colby Acuff, Chayce Beckham, Bayker Blankenship, Clay Street Unit, Kashus Culpepper, Hudson Westbrook and Jake Worthington. Tickets here Friday (11/15).

Tickets to Chase Matthew's 2025 World Tour, launching Dec. 14 (2024) in Ridgefield, WA, go on sale Friday (11/15) here. He’ll be joined by Lakeview, Austin Williams, John Morgan, Trevor Snider and Lecade on select dates.

Read Hall About It: The 54th Anniversary Gala of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame saw six new members inducted, with Country Aircheck there to bring you all the evening's festivities. Plus, learn more about Backline as Exec. Dir. Hilary Gleason discusses the nonprofit's work in deploying mental health resources in the music industry. It's all in Monday's (11/11) Country Aircheck Weekly.

Festive All: Luke Bryan’s 10th annual Crash My Playa has added Lainey Wilson, Travis Denning and Kendell Marvel to its lineup Jan. 15-18 at Moon Palace Cancún; travel package info here.

Kid Rock, Nickelback and Hank Williams Jr. will headline Rock the South June 19-21 in Cullman, AL; full lineup here.

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

New openings were added to the Job Board.
Forever Media is selling WOGH/Pittsburgh to Educational Media Foundation.
iHeartMedia's Steve George is succeeding Jeff Littlejohn as EVP/Engineering.

ICYMI: Riley Green and Ella Langley performed "You Look Like You Love Me" on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (11/11).

A new short film documenting the creation of Willie Nelson's Last Leaf On The Tree premiered today (11/12). Additionally, Willie and Annie Nelson's Cannabis Cookbook: Mouthwatering Recipes and the High-Flying Stories Behind Them is available here.

Crib Note: Forward Music Management and Deluge Records Nashville’s Brad Austin and wife Ryan Kay welcomed their first child, daughter Austin Jo Madsen, on Nov. 10. Congratulate the new dad here.

Chronicle: Veteran radio personality and publisher Robert E. Lewis passed away Nov. 6. He was 76. Lewis' three decades in radio included stops in Honolulu and at WNOE/New Orleans, KXXY/Oklahoma City, WQDR/Raleigh, WYCQ/Nashville and six years as PD at WKML/Fayetteville, NC. He returned to Nashville in 2001 and worked for On The Wall Music publishing before retiring last year. No word on services.

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Nov. 11, according to Mediabase 24/7.

TIM MCGRAW/One Bad Habit (Big Machine) 3625 points
MORGAN WALLEN/Lies Lies Lies (Big Loud) 3427 points
JELLY ROLL/I Am Not Okay (BMG/Republic/Stoney Creek) 3295 points
KANE BROWN & MARSHMELLO/Miles On It (RCA) 2791 points
PARMALEE/Gonna Love You (Stoney Creek) 2680 points

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for Nov. 10-11 compared with the same days last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.

TIM MCGRAW/One Bad Habit (Big Machine) +2398 points
DYLAN MARLOWE & DYLAN SCOTT/Boys Back Home (Columbia/Curb) +634 points
MORGAN WALLEN/Love Somebody (Big Loud) +369 points
JELLY ROLL/Liar (BMG/Republic/Stoney Creek) +353 points
KOE WETZEL & JESSIE MURPH/High Road (Columbia/Records Nashville) +345 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (11/13): Ray Wylie Hubbard, Chelsea Bain, Frank Liddell, Danny Montana, Cody Alan, Erik Powell, Smokey Rivers, Julie Daniel, Allan Wallace, Frank Mull.

Interstate Love Strong: Tyler Hubbard's Strong World Tour stops in Philadelphia (top) and Boston. Pictured (top, l-r) are WXTU/WKLB's Nicole Michalik, Hubbard, WXCY/Wilmington, DE's Charlie Maxx and the label's Mike Krinik; (bottom, l-r) Krinik, Hubbard and WKLB's Dawn Santolucito.

Sad Company: Triple Tigers' Jordan Fletcher receives his first gold certification for co-writing Megan Moroney's “Sad Songs For Sad People." Pictured (back, l-r) are the label's Kevin Herring and Mackenzie Cooper, Sea Gayle's Chris DuBois and Brandon Gregg, co-writer Ian Christian, the label's Annie Ortmeier, Sea Gayle's JD Groover, the label's Blake Nixon and Triple 8's Cara Kozulak; (front, l-r) the label's Raffaella Braun, Sea Gayle's Kim Wiggins and Emily Craig and the label's Hope Garrison, Laura Hostelley and Liz Scherff.

Weapons Of Mass Construction: Singer/songwriter Niko Moon (c) joins CAA and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville’s Music Row Build.

Veterans Fay: WKML/Fayetteville, NC celebrates Veterans Day with their 12th annual Stars & Guitars. Pictured (l-r) are the station's Morgan Rawald, Records Nashville's George Birge, Columbia's Kameron Marlowe, Leo33's Zach Top, the station's Sarah Weaver, Tigirlily Gold's Kendra Slaubaugh and Krista Slaubaugh, the station's Brandon Plotnick, LoCash's Preston Brust and Chris Lucas and the station's Casey Atkins, Minda Kistner and Don Chase.

Signage: Quality Control Music (QC) signs its first country act, sister quartet The BoykinZ. Pictured (l-r) are QC's Kevin “Coach K” Lee, the group's Nytere, Anale, Alona and Kylan, QC's Pierre “P” Thomas and manager Craig King.

Signage: Singer/songwriter/producer Brock Phillips signs with Big Loud Publishing/Local Hay. Pictured (l-r) are BLP's Michael Giangreco and Kimberly Gleason, Phillips, Local Hay's Scott Cooke and BLP's Sydney Burdette and Sara Knabe.

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