October 15, 2024 News@CountryAircheck.com

Easy Dozen It: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for September 2024 (three-month rolling average, 6/20-9/11) compared with July and August. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Bakersfield, CA (Market 81)	KUZZ Owens 6.1 (2t) - 5.5 (3t) - 6.1 (2) KCWR Owens Classic Country 0.9 (22t) - 0.9 (22t) - 2.6 (12) Largest share since Aug. 2020. KRJK Owens 1.1 (19t) - 1.1 (18t) - 1.2 (20)
Knoxville, TN (72)	WIVK Cumulus 10.5 (1t) - 12.3 (1) - 12.0 (1) WCYQ SummitMedia 4.4 (6) - 4.4 (6) - 4.7 (6) WDKW Midwest Classic Country 2.5 (10t) - 2.8 (8) - 2.8 (8t)
Omaha, NE (75)	KXKT iHeartMedia 9.0 (1) - 9.6 (1) - 9.2 (1) KFFF iHeartMedia Classic Country 3.1 (12) - 2.9 (12t) - 3.3 (9t)
Tulsa, OK (63)	KWEN Cox 5.5 (4) - 5.2 (4t) - 4.9 (5) KVOO Griffin 5.0 (5t) - 5.2 (4t) - 4.7 (6) KXBL Griffin Classic Country 5.0 (5t) - 4.8 (7) - 4.3 (8) KTGX iHeartMedia 3.8 (10t) - 3.6 (12) - 3.6 (11t)

Just Pres Play: iHeartMedia Midwest/Southeast Division Pres. Tom McConnell is retiring after nearly 30 years with the company and its predecessors. In that time, he has led the Hartford and Springfield, MA markets, and served as an EVP/Operations before being elevated to his most recent postion last year (CAT 12/4/23). He will remain in a consultant role. Concurrently, Pres./Houston Region Eddie Martiny has been named Div. Pres. overseeing Texas' major markets, New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Also, EVP/Strategic Partnerships John Karpinski has been named Div. Pres. overseeing the Carolina's major markets, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Memphis, Louisville and Lexington, and he will continue to lead Market Tier 3 Automotive business. Both report to Markets Group Pres. Hartley Adkins. Martiny has been with the company since 1999; Karpinski joined in 2016.

Great Scott: Morning co-host Bryan Scott has been named Brand Mgr. at Midwest WDEZ/Wausau, WI, officially adding some of the duties he'd already been handling in the long-vacant position. Scott joined Midwest at WNCY/Green Bay in 2006, shifting to WDEZ in 2011. He will continue to co-host mornings with Mikala. VP/Market Mgr. Rusty James says of Scott, "I know that he has the drive and the passion to lead and ensure the continued success of WDEZ."

Bortnick Of Time: iHeartMedia/Washington, DC-Baltimore SVP/Sales Daniel Bortnick has been named Dir./Sales for Hubbard/West Palm Beach, which includes WIRK. He succeds Greg Simonson, who exits after five years (CAT 5/3/19). "With his extensive and successful track record of driving revenue growth as well as fostering strong client relationships, we are confident Danny will make a big impact," says Market Pres. Elizabeth Hamma. Bortnick joined iHeartMedia in 2018 (CAT 8/7/18) following stops at Entercom, CBS Radio, Salem and Katz. Reach him here.

Alexander Departs WSIG: Saga Classic Country WSIG/Harrisonburg, VA morning host Quinn Alexander has departed. He joined the station last year (CAT 5/2/23) after stints at WCJC/Kokomo, IN; KGKL/San Angelo, TX; WEBB/Augusta, ME; KSOK/Arkansas City, KS; and then-Entercom/San Diego. Alexander shared on Facebook, "Being a morning show host on a Country station has truly been the time of my life." He is seeking his next opportunity, and can be reached here. No word on a successor at WSIG.

Feels Like Carolina: The Avett Brothers, Scotty McCreery, Chase Rice and Parmalee have been added to the Concert for Carolina benefit (CAT 10/7) Oct. 26 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The show will also livestream on Veeps, with all proceeds going to help those affected by Hurricane Helene.

Rock Enroll: The Music Health Alliance (MHA) is offering free health insurance assistance to the music community during the open enrollment period now through Dec. 7 (Medicare) and Nov. 1-Jan. 15 (Marketplace). To book an open enrollment appointment with an MHA healthcare advocate, please email:

Leah for Individual/Family Health Insurance
Erin for Group Health Insurance
Shelia Medicare Annual Enrollment (65+)

The music community can support MHA via Heal The Music through a one-time or recurring donation starting Friday (10/18).

Three Ami-grows: Industry vets Brad Austin, J.R. Schumann and Kris Rochester share their secrets on moving from radio to artist management. Plus, find out how the Grand Ole Opry plans to celebrate its centennial over the next year and who led PPM drivetimes in Q3. It's all in Monday's (10/14) Country Aircheck Weekly.

Show Support: Tickets to the final three shows of Carrie Underwood's Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency (April 9, 11 and 12 at Resorts World Theatre) go on sale Friday (10/18) here.

Bits & Pieces: Lady A, Ernest and Hardy helped raise more than $1.8 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital during the fifth annual St. Jude Presents: Curated.

Blake Shelton made a surprise visit at Ada High School in Ada, OK to celebrate the launch and expansion of his hometown’s music program on behalf of nonprofit Music Will.

Founder Briana Calhoun and songwriters Bob DiPiero and Tim Nichols will perform during nonprofit Hope On The Inside's charitable writers’ round at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville Nov. 1; tickets here.

Granger Smith partnered with Hope Found to provide supplies to areas affected by Hurricane Helene. He'll also donate proceeds from his Like A River — The Farewell Tour — Live album (out 10/18). Smith will also broadcast his nationally syndicated After MidNite With Granger Smith show from the flood-impacted Appalachians for three nights, beginning tonight (10/15).

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

New openings were added to the Job Board.
Delta Media/Lafayette, LA OM Clint Domingue is leaving.
Plans for celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry in 2025 were revealed.

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for October 14, according to Mediabase 24/7.

JUSTIN MOORE/This Is My Dirt (Valory) 4707 points
POST MALONE f/BLAKE SHELTON/Pour Me A Drink (Mercury/Republic/Big Loud) 4686 points
JELLY ROLL/I Am Not Okay (BMG/Republic/Stoney Creek) 4543 points
KANE BROWN & MARSHMELLO/Miles On It (RCA) 4479 points
MORGAN WALLEN/Lies Lies Lies (Big Loud) 3676 points

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for October 13-14 compared with the same days last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.

JUSTIN MOORE/This Is My Dirt (Valory) +2139 points
KOE WETZEL & JESSIE MURPH/High Road (Columbia/Records Nashville) +539 points
MORGAN WALLEN/Lies Lies Lies (Big Loud) +494 points
LOCASH/Hometown Hero (Galaxy) +384 points
JELLY ROLL/I Am Not Okay (BMG/Republic/Stoney Creek) +348 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (10/16): Garrett Nichols (Restless Road), Jim Ed Norman, Evan Paul Rose, Adrian Michaels, Kevin Crockett, Jody Wheatley, Tiffany Bearden.

Head Poncho: Blue Chair/Warner/WEA’s Kenny Chesney and Poncho (inset) celebrate their 36th and first No. 1, respectively, "Take Her Home." Pictured (back, l-r) are Sony Music Publishing’s Josh Van Valkenburg, Relative Music Group’s Jesse Matkosky, ASCAP’s Kele Currier, BMI’s Clay Bradley, Warner Chappell’s Christina Wiltshire and Tape Room Music’s Caroline Hodson; (front, l-r) producer Buddy Cannon, songwriter Zach Abend, Chesney and songwriters Michael Hardy and Hunter Phelps.

Gruene Light: The Randy Rogers Band is surprised with Pandora’s Billionaire plaques at Gruene Hall In New Braunfels, TX. Pictured (back, l-r) are the group's Brady Black and Randy Rogers, Pandora’s Johnny Chiang and the group's Les Lawless, Johnny “Chops” Richardson, Todd Stewart and Geoffrey Hill; (front, l-r) Red Light's Enzo DeVincenzo, Allison Laughter and Nick Rhodes.

Insta-Graham: Sony Music Nashville's Graham Barham makes his Grand Ole Opry debut. Pictured (l-r) are Opry Entertainment Group’s Dan Rogers, the label's Randy Goodman, Barham, Fngrprnt’s Dillon Goldberg and Cornman Music’s Nate Lowery.

Big, Big D Plans: Red Street's Chris Lane (top) and Valory's Justin Moore (bottom) visit Big D & Bubba's Derek “Big D” Haskins, Jessica “Carsen” Humphreville and Sean “Bubba” Powell (l-r).

Signage: Big Machine's Carly Pearce extends her publishing deal with BMG in association with Altadena. Pictured (l-r) are Altadena's Daniel Lee, Starstruck's Mike Blong, BMG's Camryn Clark and Patricia Wittmer, Pearce, BMG's Chris Oglesby, Altadena's Jess Busbee, BMG's Amy Scott and attorney David Crow.

Signage: Singer/songwriter Austin Williams signs with Records Nashville/Columbia Records in partnership with Truth Or Dare Records. Pictured (back, l-r) are attorney Christian Barker, Ignition Management's Ken Madson, Records Nashville's Josh Easler, Ignition Management's Loyd Potts and Truth Or Dare's Steve Bogard; (front, l-r) Truth Or Dare/T.R.U.T.H. Management's Missi Gallimore, Williams and Records Nashville's Joe Fisher.

Signage: Singer/songwriter Stephen Day signs with Riser House. Pictured (back, l-r) are the company's Brandon Perdue and Jennifer Johnson; (front, l-r) manager Maddy Sundquist, Day and the company's Megan Schultz.