April 14, 2025 News@CountryAircheck.com

Brophey To Retire: "Ginny is one of the absolute best ever to do it,” says Townsquare RVP/NH Market Pres. Christine Sieks. "She has a gift for programming, a heart for the format, and a deep respect for the audience. Ginny didn’t just work in Country radio – she helped define it." As reported earlier via Breaking News, 2025 Country Radio Hall of Fame inductee Ginny Rogers Brophey will retire from her role as Brand Mgr. and midday host at Townsquare WOKQ/Portsmouth, NH in August. Brophey's career has spanned 41 years, 26 of which were spent in Boston at Country stations WBCS, WKLB and WBWL before joining WOKQ three years ago (CAT 2/17/22). The search for Brophey's replacement has begun; see the listing here. "Whoever steps into this role will be stewarding a brand with deep roots, loyal fans, and a team that lives and breathes great Country radio," Brophey says; reach her here.

Latimer Exits WGKX: Cumulus WGKX/Memphis morning co-host Andrew “Latty” Latimer has exited. No word on plans for the position. Latimer joined WGKX in 2022 (CAT 5/19/22); he previously spent six years at crosstown Flinn Classic Hits WHBQ & Rock WIVG, and five years at crosstown iHeartMedia Top 40 KNWN. Reach him at (901) 515-7327 or here.

M'Kay: Audacy WUSN/Chicago afternoon host Scotty Kay has added the same daypart at sister KMNB/Minneapolis, effective today (4/14). He succeeds the company's national personality Sean "Coop" Tabler in that role. Kay joined WUSN in 2019 (CAT 8/22/19) and moved to afternoons a year later (CAT 6/23/20). Reach him here.

Bat City Recruit: ASM Global VP Arenas/Stadiums/Theaters Tim Jorgensen has joined Opry Entertainment Group (OEG) as VP/Operations in Austin. He will lead the company's Block 21 businesses, including ACL Live, 3TEN and W Austin, with direct oversight of the day-to-day operations at ACL Live and 3TEN. Prior to ASM Global, Jorgensen was Pres. of Crew One Productions, where he oversaw the festival division. He has also held leadership positions at Live Nation and House of Blues Entertainment. He reports to OEG COO Gary Scott.

Bye Bell: Bell Media's spin off of radio stations across Canada (CAT 2/9/24) has led to several Country outlets switching from Bell's proprietary "Pure Country" branding. Maritime Broadcasting has returned CKTY/Truro, NS to the "Cat Country" identity it carried from 2001 to 2019. The other Country station among the five purchased by Maritime, CJCJ/Woodstock, NB, has been flipped to Classic Hits after four years as "Pure Country."

Vista Radio purchased 21 stations in British Columbia, including three Country outlets: CJDC-AM/Dawson Creek and CICF/Vernon – re-branded as "The Ranch" – and CJFW/Terrace has become "103.1 The River."

Tour Support: Jon Pardi has added dates to his Honkytonk Hollywood Tour 2025, resuming Sept. 18 in Grand Rapids, MI with Jake Worthington and Colby Acuff. Tickets go on sale Friday (4/18) here.

Russell Dickerson is extending his Russellmania Tour into the fall with added dates in Philadelphia, Charlotte, Kansas City and more; tickets here Friday (4/18).

Members Only: The CMA launched its Member Ambassador Program with an inaugural class: Rhyme Partners Music Publishing's Melissa Bollea Rowe, Life's Jam's Rachael Bronstein, artists Brei Carter and Matt Castillo, Up Up And Away Nash's Conor Clemmons, House of Darlings' Diana Garcia, Girlilla Marketing's Haley Hansen, Origins Music Group's Corey Jones, Tin Roof's Jack Jones, artist/Country Latin Association's Angie K, artist/actor Grayson Russell, DS Entertainment Law & Marketing's Debbye Scroggins, Paramount Global's Mark Thomas and artists Andrea Vasquez and Tekitha Washington. The ambassadors will help recruit new CMA members and promote CMA initiatives.

Bits & Pieces: Eric Church's Chief Cares broke ground on its first mid-to-long-term housing development, Blue Haven, in Avery County, NC to support families displaced by Hurricane Helene. Families are expected to move in by late summer.

Carrie Underwood presented Make-A-Wish a check for $236,844 at the closing of her Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency. The donation was raised using $1 of every ticket sold, and Underwood was joined by former Make-A-Wish child Noel Miller, who she met through the organization in 2008.

Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley's Groceries with Dignity & Comedy Without featuring comedians Kevin Nealon, Henry Cho and Aaron Webber raised more than $500,000 for The Store.

Cumulus KSCS/Dallas morning hosts Mark "Hawkeye" Louis and Michelle Rodriguez talked with Ella Langley to get her thoughts on her image being tattooed on the leg of a British man – the same man who also has a tattoo of Rodriguez on his leg (CAT 2/6/24). Listen here.

ICYMI: Jon Pardi performed "Honkytonk Hollywood" on NBC's Today (4/13).

Ian Munsick has partnered with Montana Silversmiths for a jewelry collection launching Thursday (4/17) at Boot Barn Nashville stores and BootBarn.com ahead of the release of album Eagle Feather (4/18).

Randy Travis' "Where That Came From" is nominated in the AI, Immersive & Games – Media & Entertainment category at this year's 29th Annual Webby Awards.

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for the week ending April 12, according to Mediabase 24/7.

LOCASH/Hometown Home (Galaxy)
MORGAN WALLEN/I'm The Problem (Big Loud)
JOHN MORGAN f/JASON ALDEAN/Friends Like That (Night Train/Broken Bow)
COLE SWINDELL/Forever To Me (Warner/WMN)
ZACH TOP/I Never Lie (Leo33)

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for April 13 compared with the same day last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.

JOHN MORGAN f/JASON ALDEAN/Friends Like That (Night Train/Broken Bow) +661 points
RILEY GREEN/Worst Way (Nash. Harbor) +368 points
MORGAN WALLEN/I'm The Problem (Big Loud) +349 points
HARDY/Favorite Country Song (Big Loud) +294 points
SAM HUNT/Country House (MCA) +268 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (4/15): Chris Stapleton, Lib Hatcher, Rick Huckaby, Bobby Kraig, Victoria Nugent, the late Bob Luman, the late Roy Clark.

Tube Check Tomorrow (4/15): Jon Pardi, Fox & Friends.

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The Rest Is History: Riser House/Columbia’s Mitchell Tenpenny celebrates the platinum certifications of "Drunk Me" (4x) and "We Got History" at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. Pictured (l-r) are Red Light's Kristen Ashley, the label's Ken Robold, Tenpenny and the label's Taylor Lindsey.

"Park" Lot Party: EMI's Tyler Hubbard with KBUL’s Kristen Marie and Bob Richards (top) and KOLC’s Robbie Owens and Cat (bottom) in Reno, NV.

Chili Vanilli: Dylan Scott's Country Til I Die Tour stops in Cincinnati. Pictured (l-r) are Curb's Samantha DePrez, Scott, iHeart’s Rachel Elliot and Hubbard's Grover Collins.

My Space: Singer/songwriter Charles Kelley talks solo music, moon phases and cosmic connections with SXM/Pandora's Cody Alan.