Mac When: Beasley/Charlotte VP/MM Mac Edwards is stepping down Sept. 4 after 35 years with the company. “While this departure is bittersweet, I’m looking forward to taking a moment to relax and spend time with my two very active grandsons, with a granddaughter on the way, before embracing new adventures ahead," he says. Adds COO Brian Beasley, "Thirty-five years ago, I had the privilege of recruiting Mac Edwards to join Beasley Media Group, and it remains one of the best decisions we’ve ever made." Edwards joined the company's WKML/Fayetteville, NC in 1991, transitioned to the then-newly acquired Detroit radio cluster in 2016 and moved to Charlotte in 2023 (CAT 6/28/23). Plans for the position are forthcoming.  Reach Edwards here through Sept. 4.

Bella Donne: Townsquare/Evansville, IN  & Owensboro, KY Market Pres. LaDonne Craig will be retiring at the end of the year. She shared in a LinkedIn post, "While I’m retiring from full-time leadership, I’m very happy that my relationship with Townsquare will continue. In 2027, I’ll remain involved on a part-time consulting basis, giving me the opportunity to continue contributing while creating more time for family, travel and the next chapter of life." Craig has been with Townsquare since 2006, and in her current role since 2011.

Keeping TABs: WKDF/Nashville's Jesse James won Best Local Entertainment Personality or DJ (Large Market), and WUSY/Chattanooga's Melissa "Mo" Wagner and Greg "StyckMan" Owens won in the small market category at the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters (TAB)'s Excellence in Broadcasting Awards Aug. 17 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. WSM-AM/Nashville was the Large Market Station of the Year, also nabbing an award for Best Local Use of Digital or Social Media Platforms, while the Grand Ole Opry received the Industry Impact Award. See the full list of winners here.

Gig Alert: Rubber City WQMX/Akron, OH is seeking a live, local evening host with great social media and imaging skills. Email résumé and aircheck to PD Sarah Kay here.

Nashville-based Outback Presents is recruiting for two positions: Digital Mgr./Tour Marketing and Mgr./Tour Marketing. Find job details and apply here and here, respectively.

Contact Update: Summit WZZK/Birmingham PD/midday host Mike "Sandman" Sanders has relocated to Nashville to work as a contracted radio tour coordinator for clients including Triple Tigers. He tells Country Aircheck, "It feels good to be home and even better to be back in the mix with Country radio." Sanders departed WZZK last year in a round of companywide cuts (CAT 4/28/25). Reach him here.

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

• Kidney disease continues to hit close to home for the country music industry; full story in Country Aircheck Weekly.
• iHeartMedia's Alissa Pollack was upped to President/Mediabase at RCS Worldwide. (8/17)
• Bob Delmont rejoined WPOC/Baltimore in middays and WMZQ/Washington, DC in evenings. (8/17)

Strong Hot Summer: The CAA band The Nashville Bards won and Keith Urban made a surprise appearance as $77,500 was raised for Nashville's W.O. Smith School during the annual The Smitty Corporate Band Challenge Monday (8/17). Teams from UTA, 800 Pound Gorilla Media, Concord and WME also competed. W.O. Smith School provides music education and instruments to low-income children. Live Nation presented; photo below.

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for August 18, according to Mediabase.

1. LUKE COMBS/Be By You (Columbia) 4446 points
2. BAILEY ZIMMERMAN/Chevy Silverado (Atlantic/Warner/WRN) 4242 points
3. STELLA LEFTY/Boston (Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost) 3702 points
4. ELLA LANGLEY & MORGAN WALLEN/I Can't Love You Anymore (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers/Big Loud) 3691 points
5. KANE BROWN/Woman (RCA) 3564 points

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for August 16-18, compared with the same days last week, according to Mediabase.  

1. BAILEY ZIMMERMAN/Chevy Silverado (Atlantic/Warner/WRN) +1623 points
2. STELLA LEFTY/Boston (Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost) +1043 points
3. KOE WETZEL f/ELLA LANGLEY/Jaded (Col. NY/Records Nashville) +878 points
4. MORGAN WALLEN/Been By Now (Big Loud) +846 points
5. ELLA LANGLEY/Loving Life Again (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers) +460 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (8/20): Rudy Gatlin (Gatlin Brothers), Aaron Watson, John Hiatt, Tony Stampley, Dan McClain, Lisa Ramsey, the late Jim Reeves, the late Roland Janes, the late Pete Kleinow, the late Justin Tubb.

Web Check: Coleman Insights VP/Consultant Jay Nachlis will present "The Listener Truth Project” webinar, an "unfiltered look at today’s radio listeners," Aug. 27 at 2pm ET; register here.

Art Like A Hometown: MCA's Keith Urban and the W.O. Smith-supporting crew at the annual The Smitty Corporate Band Challenge (see story above). Pictured (l-r) are CMA Foundation's Michelle Kirk, Urban, competition judges Mōriah and Breland, The Big 615's Storme Warren, the school's Valerie Cordero and Live Nation's Colin Keegan.