September 1, 2026 News@CountryAircheck.com

Chatt's All, Folks: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for July 2026 (three-month rolling average, 4/30-7/22) compared with May and June. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Chattanooga, TN (Market 93)	WUSY Audacy 7.6 (1) - 7.4 (1) - 7.9 (1) WUUQ Bahakel Classic Country 4.6 (3) - 4.3 (5) - 4.1 (5) WOGT Cumulus Does not subscribe.
Huntsville, AL (99)	WDRM iHeartMedia 12.1 (1) - 11.7 (1) - 10.2 (1)
Jackson, MS (125)	WMSI iHeartMedia 3.5 (8) - 3.3 (7t) - 4.2 (4) WUSJ New South 3.7 (6t) - 3.5 (5t) - 3.2 (7) WHJT New South Classic Country 2.0 (9) - 1.8 (9) - 1.7 (9)
Madison, WI (88)	WMAD iHeartMedia 4.1 (4) - 4.9 (5) - 5.0 (5) WWQM Mid-West Family 3.0 (7) - 2.6 (10t) - 2.9 (9t)

Linn The Day: Leadership Music Exec. Dir. Debbie Linn will step down in the summer of 2027 after what will have been 15 years at the helm of the Nashville-based organization. In a letter to alumni, she said, "Leadership Music has never been just a job. It has been my passion, my purpose, and one of the greatest blessings of my life." Linn took on the role in 2012 after serving as Sr. Dir./Strategic Marketing for Sony/Nashville, where she worked from 1994 to 2011 (CAT 4/11/12). Reach her here. A search committee will begin the process of identifying the organization’s next Executive Dir. in the coming months.

Can't Spell Global Without Him: Following the completion of BMG's merger with Concord (CAT 5/14/2026), Pres./Frontline Recordings Jon Loba has been named Head/Global Frontline Recordings for the combined company, as reported this morning (9/1) via Breaking News. Concord's Bob Valentine serves as CEO, leading a six-member executive management team. Loba serves on the 12-member Strategic Leadership Council that also includes Tom Becci (Global Recorded Operations), Tom Scherer (Global Catalog Recordings) and Jim Selby (Global Music Publishing). BMG's Thomas Coesfeld serves as Chairman. Global headquarters are in Nashville and European headquarters are in Berlin.

Brought To Justice: Midwest WNWN/Battle Creek, MI Brand Mgr./morning host JD Justice will depart Sept. 4 for the PD/afternoons role at Saga KDXY/Jonesboro, AR. Justice joined WNWN in 2021 and was promoted from Asst. Brand Mgr./Production Dir./afternoon host to Brand Mgr. in 2023 (CAT 3/2/23). Prior stops include KDJS/Montevideo, MN; KCTO/Duluth, MN; KXIA/Marshalltown, IA; and WLLR/Quad Cities, IA. Former KDXY PD/afternoon host Tim "Skeeter Nash" Goodrich departed last year (CAT 2/24/25).

Radio Waves: Eight stations earned dual Broadcast Award nominations for the 60th CMA Awards, as reported this morning (9/1) via Breaking News. They are: KSCS/Dallas, WPOC/Baltimore, KFRG/Riverside, WMIL/Milwaukee, KXKT/Omaha, KCLR/Columbia, MO, WKXC/Augusta and WYCT/Pensacola. Winners will be honored Nov. 18 preceding the live ABC telecast. See the full list here.

Sky(view)'s The Limit: Former Katz Media Group SVP/Partnerships Liz Stillman has joined Skyview Networks in New York as VP/Sales. Prior to re-joining Katz in 2018 (after a previous stint there from 2003-2010), she was Group Advertising Dir./Head of Agency Sales at Bloomberg.

Main Stream: As reported via Breaking News, Brittani Johnson is MCA's new VP/Streaming. Succeeding Tatiana Angulo (CAT 7/31), Johnson was most recently Day-To-Day Mgr. at The Core (CAT 12/17/25). She is also the current CRS Agenda Committee Chair. Reach her here.

MCA's Schuler Exits: In other MCA Breaking News (9/1), today was VP/Audience Development Chris Schuler's last day. He first joined the label group in 2013, rose to VP/Promotion & Radio Marketing in 2019 (CAT 4/17/19), moved to Arista as VP/Promo in 2022 (CAT 4/4/22) and rejoined then-UMG/Nashville in 2023 (Breaking News 1/6/2023). Reach him here. No word on plans for the vacant position.

Festive All: George Strait, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Zach Top and Jon Pardi are among the artists on the lineup for Boots In The Park in Albuquerque, NM May 14-16. Tickets go on sale Sept. 11 here.

In Dolly We Trust: Joe Galante, Sarah Trahern, Scott Borchetta and more share their Dolly Parton stories in last night’s (8/31) Country Aircheck Weekly, which also recaps the 23rd annual Source Nashville Hall of Fame dinner.

Bits & Pieces: Audacy's annual hourlong mental health broadcast special, I'm Listening, returns for National Suicide Prevention Month, and is scheduled to air aross the company's stations, app and website Sept. 8-13. Guests will include Keith Urban, Jelly Roll and Shaboozey, and the special will once again be co-hosted by Audacy's Katie Neal and Carson Daly, joined by mental health professionals.

Ella Langley has teamed with beverage brand Bum Energy for a limited collaboration debuting with new flavor peaches & honey, inspired by her Southern roots. The campaign will include tour integrations, fan experiences and retail activations.

Wedding Belle: Artist Trey Lewis, who also records as Thomason, recently eloped in California with Brooke Dobson, sharing photos from their wedding day on Instagram here.

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Aug. 31, according to Mediabase.

TAYLOR SWIFT/I Knew It, I Knew You (Disney/Republic/MCA) 4597 points
LUKE COMBS/Be By You (Columbia) 4353 points
STELLA LEFTY/Boston (Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost) 4222 points
KENNY CHESNEY/Carry On (Hey Now) 3288 points
KANE BROWN/Woman (RCA) 3033 points

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for Aug. 30-31, compared with the same days last week, according to Mediabase.

TAYLOR SWIFT/I Knew It, I Knew You (Disney/Republic/MCA) +2318 points
ELLA LANGLEY/Loving Life Again (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers) +850 points
KOE WETZEL f/ELLA LANGLEY/Jaded (Col. NY/Records Nashville) +613 points
MORGAN WALLEN/Been By Now (Big Loud) +503 points
STELLA LEFTY/Boston (Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost) +457 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (9/2): Paul Deakin (The Mavericks), Chris O'Kelley, Dawn Santolucito.

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War Damn Ella: Col. NY/Triple Tigers' Ella Langley plays Neville Arena in Auburn University, AL. Pictured (l-r) are TT's Blake Nixon, WHHY/Montgomery, AL's Rock Hendrick and girlfriend Amanda Jones, Langley, iHeart’s Angie Ward and TT's Chris Palmer.

Houston, We Have A Miracle: River House/Warner/WAR’s Hudson Westbrook (c) with WKML/Fayetteville’s Sarah Weaver and RH's Lance Houston at the station's Music for Miracles.

Musta Had a Good Tide: Stoney Creek's Parmalee plays at WBWL/Boston’s Bull Beach House in Cape Cod, MA. Pictured (l-r) are the group's Josh McSwain and Barry Knox, the label's Lexi Willson, WBWL’s Brandon Clay and Amanda Jo Parker and the band's Matt Thomas and Scott Thomas.

Signage: Singer/songwriter Dan Alley renews his deal with River House Artists and Sony Music Publishing Nashville. Pictured (back l-r) are RHA's Kayla Adkins and Lauren Lieu; (front, l-r) RHA's Lyndsay Kash, Alley and RHA's Zebb Luster.

Signage: Singer/songwriter Chase Wright (back, c) signs with North Loop Agency. Pictured with (back, l-r) the company's Dan Battaglia and Nick Engbloom; (front, l-r) the company's Blythe Brenden and John Cantu.

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