October 1, 2025 News@CountryAircheck.com

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Chatt's In The Cradle: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for August 2025 (three-month rolling average, 5/29-8/20) compared with June and July. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Chattanooga, TN (Market 94)	WUSY Audacy 9.7 (3) - 9.5 (3) - 9.2 (3) WUUQ Bahakel Classic Country 3.2 (7) - 3.1 (8) - 2.3 (8t) WOGT Cumulus 1.3 (13) - 1.4 (13) - 0.9 (14)
Huntsville, AL (99)	WDRM iHeartMedia 10.6 (1) - 10.5 (1) - 8.7 (1) WWFF Cumulus 1.0 (14) - 0.8 (15) - 1.2 (13t)
Jackson, MS (125)	WMSI iHeartMedia 3.7 (9t) - 3.2 (8) - 3.4 (8) WUSJ New South 4.4 (6t) - 2.9 (9) - 3.1 (9) WHJT New South Classic Country 2.2 (10) - 2.2 (11) - 2.2 (10t)
Madison, WI (89)	WMAD iHeartMedia 4.4 (6) - 4.5 (4) - 3.8 (6t) WWQM Mid-West Family 3.3 (8) - 3.4 (7) - 3.8 (6t)

Brew Town Pro: Milwaukee Radio Alliance Pres./GM Colleen Valkoun has returned to iHeartMedia's six-station Milwaukee cluster, including WMIL, as Dir./Sales. During her prior, 19-year run with iHeart, she rose to the position of Milwaukee Market Pres. before departing in 2022 (CAT 9/1/22). Valkoun previously spent more than 10 years at Saga/Milwaukee.

Toledo Talkin': Cumulus WKKO/Toledo midday host Johny D is now co-hosting mornings with incumbent Lyn Casye. He succeeds Marco, who exits after three years (CAT 6/27/22). New to middays is former WKKO morning co-host Cliff Smithers, making his return to the station after departing in 2022 for an opportunity outside of radio (CAT 6/23/22). The Mookie-hosted afternoon show now starts at 2pm rather than 3pm.

Gordon's Wish Sticks: Songwriter, entertainment attorney and former SESAC EVP Dennis Lord has joined the Nashville-based Gordon Law Group. Since leaving SESAC in 2017, he has been operating his own law and consulting practice. He also served on the Board of the Nashville Songwriters Association International, leading its legislative efforts in Washington, D.C. As a songwriter, his hits have included Travis Tritt's "Country Club." Reach Lord here.

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Creative Process: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum VP/Creative Warren Denney will retire at the end of the year after more than 18 years with the organization. “Throughout his tenure, Warren grew the museum’s video, design and digital content efforts into an award-winning creative arm, forging an artistic vision for the museum that will resonate well into the future,” says CEO Kyle Young. Denney joined the museum in 2007 and took the reins of the creative department in 2009. Reach him here. No word on plans for the position.

Crash Diet: Connoisseur WCLI/Dayton is stunting ahead of a potential format change teased for tomorrow (10/2) at 5pm ET. Under previous owner Alpha, the station flipped from Modern AC to Classic Country as "101.5 Hank FM – The Icons of Country" in 2014 (CAT 10/16/14). Its website currently features a photo of an open refrigerator and the words, "Your musical diet is about to change," while the music mix is food and beverage-themed songs, including Oasis' "Champagne Supernova," Toby Keith ft. Willie Nelson's "Beer For My Horses," Jimmy Buffett's "Cheeseburger In Paradise," Baby Bash's "Suga Suga" and The B-52's "Rock Lobster." Listen here.

Here Comes The Guide: Country Aircheck’s CMA Voter’s Guide – a quick-reference, category-by-category look at the nominees, featuring label and artist camps’ totally unbiased pitches – is available here. Voting for the 60th ACM Awards continues through Oct. 29.

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

Nominations for the Country Radio Hall of Fame are open here through Oct. 31.
Dylan Salisbury steps into a new leadership role and the process behind selecting the CRHoFamers is explored in (9/29) Country Aircheck Weekly.
Lainey Wilson is hosting the CMAs. (9/20)
Beasley VP/Operations Kevin Rich departed. (9/29)
Chronicle: Herb Graham.

ICYMI: Lainey Wilson is the only country artist featured in Time magazine's "2025 Time100 Next" list, recognizing emerging leaders who are shaping the future and defining the next generation of leadership. In a tribute essay, Miranda Lambert says of Wilson, "What she does doesn’t define her. Who she is defines her, and that’s real authenticity." See the full list here.

Crib Note: Apple Music Country host Kelleigh Bannen and husband Jeff Grossman welcomed their second child, Anne Carlyle Grossman, Sept. 16. She joins sister Mary Grant Grossman, who was born in 2023 (CAT 12/7/23). Bannen shared on social media, "[Anne] has captured our hearts and we are so honored to be her parents."

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Sept. 30, according to Mediabase 24/7.

JELLY ROLL/Heart Of Stone (BMG/Republic/Stoney Creek) 4570 points
SCOTTY MCCREERY f/HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH/Bottle Rockets (Triple Tigers) 4276 points
MORGAN WALLEN/I Got Better (Big Loud) 3762 points
JORDAN DAVIS/Bar None (MCA) 3537 points
LUKE COMBS/Back In The Saddle (Columbia) 3344 points

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for Sept. 28-30, compared with the same days last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.

JELLY ROLL/Heart Of Stone (BMG/Republic/Stoney Creek) +1303 points
MORGAN WALLEN/I Got Better (Big Loud) +1053 points
JASON ALDEAN/How Far Does A Goodbye Go (Macon Music/Broken Bow) +764 points
THOMAS RHETT f/JORDAN DAVIS/Ain't A Bad Life (MCA/Valory) +687 points
LUKE COMBS/Back In The Saddle (Columbia) +630 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (10/2): Greg Jennings (Restless Heart), Joy Lynn White, Lisa Matassa, Corey Calhoun, Shelia Shipley Biddy, John Scott Sherrill, Eric Welch, the late Chris LeDoux, the late Jo-El Sonnier.

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Fort Worth: Big Loud Texas' Jake Worthington opens for Zach Top at Red Rocks. Pictured (l-r) are KSCS/Dallas' Mike Preston, Townsquare's Kurt Johnson, Worthington, KNIX/Phoenix's Reid Spivey, the label's Kelley Bradshaw, KKBQ/Houston's Lauren "Lo" Sessions-Barker and KXKT/Omaha's Hoss Michaels.

I Sain't Sayin': MCA's Jordan Davis (in hat) with KSD's Dusty Panhorst, the label's Donna Jo Passuntino and WIL's Marty Brooks (l-r) in St. Louis.

Peels Like A Party: Galaxy's LoCash play the Savannah Banana's closer. Pictured (l-r) are the label's Skip Bishop, the duo's Preston Brust, KSSN/Little Rock's Jess Jennings, the duo's Chris Lucas and the label's Cheryl Broz.