November 18, 2024 News@CountryAircheck.com

The Rate Gatsby: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for October 2024 (three-month rolling average, 7/18-10/9) compared with August and September. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Chattanooga, TN (Market 95)	WUSY Audacy 10.6 (2) - 10.0 (3) - 9.1 (3) WUUQ Bahakel Classic Country 3.9 (5) - 3.2 (6) - 4.3 (6t) WOGT Cumulus 2.0 (11t) - 1.6 (13) - 1.5 (12t)
Huntsville, AL (100)	WDRM iHeartMedia 10.5 (1) - 8.8 (1) - 9.7 (1) WWFF Cumulus 1.3 (13) - 1.3 (11t) - 1.6 (11)

Poison Pen: SESAC named "Pretty Little Poison" Song of the Year at its Nashville Music Awards last night (11/17) at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Jaron Boyer took home Songwriter of the Year honors for the Jason Aldean-recorded “Let Your Boys Be Country" and George Birge's “Mind On You." Warner Chappell Music was named Publisher. Megan Moroney was given SESAC's Spotlight Award in recognition of her recent achievements, and performed "Am I Okay?" Warren Zeiders performed “Pretty Little Poison" alongside its co-writers, Ryan Beaver and Jared Keim. In addition to that song, 17 other Country and Americana songs were honored for being among the year's most performed.

What You CEO Is What You Get: "Along with Ken [Robold] and the incredible SMN team, we are committed to fostering collaboration with our artists, creators and fans, and will create a vibrant community that not only honors our rich heritage in storytelling but also redefines the sound of country music for generations," says newly appointed Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Taylor Lindsey. She will take the reins from Randy Goodman (CAT 9/18) in January. Additionally, Robold rises to Pres./COO after more than nine years with the company. Reach Lindsey here and Robold here.

Triggs-onometry: Former Elite Radio KSBH/Natchitoches, LA morning host Trini Triggs has joined Cumulus KRMD/Shreveport, LA in the same capacity. The daypart had not had a permanent host since the departure of Derek James earlier this year. Prior to his time with KSBH, Triggs was a recording artist signed to Curb, and charted two Top 50 singles in 1998 and 1999.

Time Marches On: Tracy Lawrence will be stepping down as host of his three-hour weekly, Silverfish Media produced and Compass Media-syndicated show, Honky Tonkin' with Tracy Lawrence, after a decade at the helm. Concurrently, Lawrence's co-host, Patrick Thomas, also departs the show. Beginning in January, Silverfish/Compass personalities Big D & Bubba will take over as the show's new hosts, in addition to hosting their eponymous daily show. Focused on '80s, '90s, and early 2000s country music, Honky Tonkin' is heard on more than 165 stations. It will be re-branded as Honky Tonkin’ with Big D & Bubba.

Glynn-trest Rates: iHeartMedia/Seattle Market Pres. Mark Glynn has added oversight of the Spokane cluster, which includes Country KISC-HD2, as Area Pres./Washington. Spokane had been under the purview of Pacific Area Pres. Devonne Etcheverry (CAT 9/4). Glynn has been with iHeartMedia/Seattle since 2013 and was elevated to Market Pres. in 2020. His previous stops include Entercom/Seattle and ABC Radio.

WWQQ's Medler Exits: Cumulus WWQQ/Wilmington, NC morning host Eric Medler has exited after 13 years with the station. Westwood One's Kincaid & Dallas now airs in the daypart. Medler joined WWQQ in 2011 in sales, moving on-air three years later (CAT 1/2/14). Reach him here.

Fast Carr: President-elect Donald Trump has selected Commissioner Brendan Carr to serve as Chairman of the FCC. He will succeed Jessica Rosenworcel, the Commission's first female chair, who has held the role since 2021. Carr is the senior Republican on the FCC, having served previously as its General Counsel. Before joining the FCC as a staffer in 2012, he worked as an attorney at Wiley Rein LLP in the firm’s appellate, litigation and telecom practices.

Yellow Brick Rhodes: Big Yellow Dog Music Dir./Sync Nicole Rhodes has been upped to Sr. Dir. “Nicole has a passion for songs that she knows can be synced, while delivering quality at the same time,” says Co-Owner/CEO Carla Wallace. Rhodes joined the company as an intern in 2018 before joining the team full-time in 2019; reach her here.

Call Of Duty: The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee's Dir./Donor Education Belinda Dinwiddie Havron joins Musicians On Call in the newly-created role of Chief Development Officer, tasked with leading its fundraising initiatives. She has 37 years of experience as a nonprofit executive, the last 17 with Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Sonny And 75: Simone Biles, Clint Black, Jeff Bridges, Mark Collie, Jordan Davis, Reddie Freeman, Don Johnson, Jackson Laux, Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch, Katharine McPhee, The Oak Ridge Boys, Taylor Frankie Paul, Carly Pearce, Caleb Pressley, Nate Smith, Daniel Sunjata, Mitchell Tenpenny and Billy Bob Thornton will present at the 58th Annual CMA Awards. The show airs live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday (11/20) on ABC and next day on Hulu.

Tour Support: Lanco kicks off the We’re Gonna Make It Tour in support of their upcoming album of the same name Feb. 27 in Minneapolis; tickets here Friday (11/22).

Tucker Wetmore added 17 dates to his Waves On A Sunset Tour. The second leg picks up in Berlin March 8; schedule and tickets (11/22) here.

Festive All: Jordan Davis will headline Boots In The Park in Fresno April 12, with Nate Smith, Parmalee and Presley Tennant also on the bill. Tickets go on sale Nov. 22 here. The Fresno show joins previously-announced Boots In The Park dates in Bakersfield, San Diego and Norco, CA (CAT 11/11).

Bigger Gingerbread Houses: Dan + Shay will be among the guests on the iHeartRadio Holiday Special Nov. 27 at 7pm local time on iHeartMedia Christmas music stations and the iHeartRadio app. The app also includes the holiday channel "iHeart Country Christmas."

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Bits & Pieces: In coordination with Audacy KILT/Houston, Jelly Roll visited the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center ahead of his Nov. 17 concert. In addition to speaking and performing, he also played basketball with detainees and offered to build the center a new basketball court.

ICYMI: The Carrie Underwood: Reflection concert special will debut on Hulu in January.

Ella Langley performed "Weren't For The Wind" and "Hungover" as part of Vevo's 2025 DSCVR Artists to Watch.

Life Note: Singer and The Voice Season 11 winner Sundance Head is recuperating at home after accidentally shooting himself at his ranch near Tyler, TX Nov. 15. According to a post by his wife Misty, he was reaching to grab a gun out of his vehicle when it discharged. The bullet struck near his navel and lodged in his abdonminal wall, doing no internal damage. Watch his statement about the incident here.

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for the week ending Nov. 16, according to Mediabase 24/7.

TIM MCGRAW/One Bad Habit (Big Machine)
MORGAN WALLEN/Lies Lies Lies (Big Loud)
JELLY ROLL/I Am Not Okay (BMG/Republic/Stoney Creek)
PARMALEE/Gonna Love You (Stoney Creek)
THOMAS RHETT/Beautiful As You (Valory)

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for Nov. 17 compared with the same day last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.

THOMAS RHETT/Beautiful As You (Valory) +854 points
BLAKE SHELTON/Texas (Wheelhouse) +635 points
MORGAN WALLEN/Love Somebody (Big Loud) +572 points
JELLY ROLL/Liar (BMG/Republic/Stoney Creek) +307 points
TUCKER WETMORE/Wind Up Missin' You (Back Blocks/EMI Nashville) +286 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (11/19): Cam, Billy Currington, Phil Little, Jason Henke, the late Bob McKay.

I Love This Star: Nashville Harbor's Riley Green and Columbia's Megan Moroney play Audacy's Stars and Strings in Hollywood, FL. Pictured (top, l-r) are the label's Jimmy Harnen, Green and Audacy's Tim Roberts; (bottom, l-r) Audacy's Chad Fitzsimmons, the label's Steve Hodges, Audacy's Jeff Sottolano, Moroney, Roberts, the label's Lauren Thomas and Audacy's Justin Cole and Michael Martin.

Happy Hour Anywhere: BBRMG's Blake Shelton at SiriusXM The Highway's Music Row Happy Hour with his label team. Pictured (l-r) are Scotty O'Brien, Regan Donato, Brittany Pittman, JoJamie Hahr, Shelton, Lisa Mastrianni and Ken Tucker. (inset) Shelton with SXM's Buzz Brainard.

Play Something Country Heat: Brooks & Dunn's Kix Brooks (l) and Ronnie Dunn with Country Heat Weekly's Kelly Sutton, Joyce Rizer and Amber Anderson (l-r).

Forward Momentum: CMA Awards week kicks off with Country Forward: A Day Party For Inclusion. Pictured (top, l-r) are Averianna the Personality and the CMA's Mia Jones, Sarah Trahern and Tiffany Kerns; (bottom, l-r) singer/songwriter Angie K and Jones.

She's The Man: RCA's Corey Kent and Columbia's Elle King with KILT/Houston's Melissa Chase (top) at the station's Ten Man Jam. Pictured (bottom, l-r) are Triple 8's Reagan Waligura, the label's Mallory Michaels, Country Airheck's Chris Huff, Kent and Triple 8's George Couri and Chris Fox.

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