May 28, 2026 News@CountryAircheck.com

Green Light: As announced via Breaking News, MCA has aligned with former UMG/Nashville EVP/A&R Brian Wright and Red Light Management’s Coran Capshaw on One4 Records. Tape Room Music Mgr./A&R Katherine Godwin joins Co-Founders Wright and Capshaw in the Dir./Creative role. “Brian has one of the strongest creative instincts in the business, and alongside Coran and the ONE4 team, we’re creating an environment where artists can develop authentically and sustainably with the support and infrastructure of MCA behind them," says MCA Pres./CEO Mike Harris. Wright exited UMGN in 2023 (Breaking News 4/4), and Capshaw founded Red Light in 1991. The label's roster is TBA.

WQHK's Knight Departs: Federated Media WQHK/Fort Wayne, IN OM/PD/MD Jimmy Knight has departed after more than 15 years with the company. He was programming Hot AC Sister WMEE when he assumed WQHK programming from the exiting Dave Michaels (CAT 8/18/17). Knight is seeking his next opportunity; reach him here. No word on plans for the position.

Mentoring Manika: Townsquare KIKN/Sioux Falls, SD Brand Mgr./midday host and Classic Country sister KXRB morning host Christine Manika has been chosen as Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc.'s next MIW in Country Radio Mentee, in partnership with CRS. The year-long mentorship will pair her with industry leaders, including KKBQ/Houston's Lo Sessions-Barker, and includes registration for CRS 2027 in Nashville. MIW Board member Becky Brenner says Manika "brings an incredible level of enthusiasm, authenticity and determination to everything she does. Her commitment to serving her audience and growing as a leader in Country radio made her stand out immediately."

Festive All: The Archives Nashville is offering wardrobe items from Bailey Zimmerman, Ella Langley, Jason Aldean, Jelly Roll, Luke Combs, Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert, Riley Green and more at Fan Fair X in the Music City Center during CMA Fest. A portion of proceeds benefits the CMA Foundation.

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Carly Pearce has been added as a headliner (alongside the previously announced Justin Moore, Clint Black and Jo Dee Messina) for the Heart Of Country Music Festival, set for Sept. 11-12 at Kenton County Fairgrounds in Independence, KY. Tickets here.

Signage: Country singer/songwriter Gabe Walsh has signed with Benny Brown's faith-based label, North Chapel Records, as well as inking a publishing deal with North Chapel Music. Kansas native Walsh is a 2026 recipient of NSAI's Milestone Award. His first single for the label, "Goodyears," releases June 19.

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

ACM Awards Exec. Producer Raj Kapoor goes BTS with Country Aircheck Weekly.
Spirit Music's Frank Rogers was named global CEO. (5/26)
WSOC/Charlotte's Tanner In The Morning show is ending. (5/26)
iHeartMedia/Mansfield & Marion, OH Market Pres. Margie Tasseff is retiring. (5/26)

Contact Update: Former KILT/Houston morning co-host Tucker "Frito" Young has returned to Bryan Broadcasting News-Talk WTAW/Bryan, TX as part of the Infomaniacs morning show. Young was an intern at WTAW in 2003 before moving on to Top 40 KNDE/Bryan and KCYY/San Antonio. More here. Reach Young here.

Bits & Pieces: Chase Rice has teamed with Coors Banquet and Wrangler to promote his new song, "Connie Lou" (which mentions both brands), launching a 32-piece apparel collection. It includes a limited stock of “Beer Chords" jeans, featuring “Connie Lou” chords printed on the denim using Coors Banquet beer-based ink. Rice will play a free, pop-up concert tonight (5/28) in the parking lot of Nashville's Loser’s.

Riley Green and Zach Top will captain rival teams for Folds of Honor Tennessee's Rock ‘N Jock Celebrity Softball Game June 1 at Nashville’s First Horizon Park (CAT 4/2); livestreamed on Fox Nation here. Green and Black Rifle Coffee Company are matching donations up to $50,000 during the stream. Tickets here.

Dierks Bentley will headline the 2026 Busch Light Summer Music Series finale Aug. 9 at Iowa Speedway.

Wedding Bell: Zac Brown wed jewelry designer/entrepreneur Kendra Scott in Greece May 25. The couple got engaged last summer (CAT 7/25/25).

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Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for May 27, according to Mediabase.

JORDAN DAVIS/Turn This Truck Around (MCA) 4454 points
ELLA LANGLEY/Be Her (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers) 4158 points
RILEY GREEN/Change My Mind (Nash. Harbor) 3863 points
JOSH ROSS/Hate How You Look (Core/Mercury) 3570 points
JASON ALDEAN/Don't Tell On Me (Macon Music/Broken Bow) 3118 points

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for May 24-27, compared with the same days last week, according to Mediabase.

JORDAN DAVIS/Turn This Truck Around (MCA) +2575 points
ELLA LANGLEY & MORGAN WALLEN/I Can't Love You Anymore (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers/Big Loud) +1398 points
MORGAN WALLEN/Don't We (Big Loud) +1309 points
LUKE COMBS/Be By You (Columbia) +1166 points
CHRIS JANSON/Me & A Beer (Harpeth 60/WMN) +1088 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (5/29): Bruce Adelman, Larry Pareigis, Chris Borchetta.

God Gave Me A Gyro: Triple Tigers' Russell Dickerson (holding plaque) celebrates the platinum (3x) certification of "She Likes It" with Range Media's Matt Graham and Stephanie Marks and the label's Hope Garrison, Laura Hostelley and Dave Collins (l-r) at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.

That's Flow Biz, Baby: MCA's Keith Urban (l) enters a Flow State with iHeartCountry House Party's "Wayne D" Danielson and Tay Hamilton

Eight Smith: RCA's Nate Smith (c) with WDSY/Pittsburgh's Mark Anderson and wife Marie at the station's 8 Man Jam.

Signage: Singer/songwriter Landon Wilks signs with The Neal Agency. Pictured (l-r) are Real Big Music Group's LJ Stoll, New 11's David Kaufman and Dillon Druz, Wilks and TNA's Evan Kantor, Juliette Edwards and Ryan Beuschel.