Miss Lead: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for August 2026 (three-month rolling average, 5/28-8/19) compared with June and July. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Hot Air: No official word, but Curb Nat'l. Dir./Promotion & Strategic Initiatives Allyson Gelnett (Massey) is transitioning to a consulting role after eight years with the company. She was promoted to co-heading the promotion department with Todd Thomas earlier this year (Breaking News 3/16). Reach her here. No word on plans for the open position.

Salisbury Stake: Former Connoisseur KUPL/Portland and Top 40 sister KBFF Dir./Content Dylan Salisbury has joined MacDonald Broadcasting as PD for its Saginaw, MI cluster, which includes Country WKCQ (where he will also do mornings), Adult Hits WMJO and AC WSAG/WSAM. He succeeds OM Jason Addams, who has departed. Owner and CEO Kenneth MacDonald Jr. says, “Dylan brings a tremendous combination of programming experience, creativity and passion for radio. He understands how to build a brand, connect with an audience and develop great talent.” Salisbury programmed KBFF since 2022, added the Asst. Dir./Content job for KUPL in early 2024 and was promoted to his most recent position last fall before departing Connoisseur in June (CAT 6/3). Reach him here.

MacDonald Broadcasting is still looking for full-time on-air talent to join the team. Send résumé, a short MP3 aircheck and salary expectations here.

Tuning Out: The Big 615 came down from the TuneIn platform overnight, contrary to announced plans to continue the station through year-end, as reported last month (Breaking News 9/22). The station joins already shuttered channels Tailgate Radio and The Garth Channel. Tailgate Radio PD Jonny Jazzno is working on a new home for that station while running his new voiceover, imaging and programming company, Production House HQ; email him here, website here. Other displaced staff include (linked to personal emails): PD Bob Richards, MD Monta Vaden, personality Storme Warren, PD/personality Blake Carter and producer Joe Wills.

Modern Classic: Hubbard has flipped "Alternative Talk" AM KKNW/Seattle to Classic Country as "Bull Classics," also airing on KPNW-FM HD2, which previously carried a sports betting format. Bull Classics debuted today (10/1) at 1pm PT as a flanker for the company's Country FM KPNW (98.9 The Bull). Pres./MM Nick Beyer says, "Whether listeners want today’s biggest country songs or the artists and records they’ve loved for years, we want 98.9 to be a destination for country music in Seattle." Adds OM/Brand Content Dir. Scott Mahalick, "Today’s new country stands on the shoulders of legends. Without Reba, Dolly, Garth or Alan, there'd be no Ella, Stella, Luke, Zach or Kacey. Now you have a choice for classics."

Mission Specialist: 33 Creative/Off Road Records day-to-day manager Regan Donato has joined Sony Music Nashville as Specialist, Content/Radio & Marketing. She succeeds Jansen Morgan, who was promoted to Mgr./Radio Marketing & Promotion in August (CAT 8/24). Prior to joining 33/Off Road in January, Donato had been Coord./Promotions at BBR Music Group/BMG since 2023. Reach her here.

Lake Effect: Townsquare has entered into a strategic digital advertising partnership with the six-station Lakes Media Network, which includes Country WLUS/Clarksville, VA and Classic Country WMPW & W290DA/Danville, VA. Townsquare launched its media partnerships division in 2024, working in markets that don't overlap with its own stations.

Coat Of Many Causes: Dolly Parton will posthumously receive the 2027 Artist Humanitarian Award in recognition of "a lifetime of extraordinary generosity, compassion and service to others" during CRS, taking place March 17-19 in Nashville. Parton was notified of the honor before her passing.

Tour Support: The Red Clay Strays have added a leg to their Grateful Tour beginning Jan. 22 in Raleigh, NC, and continuing into late September. Joining on select dates are Avery Anna, The Bends and St. Paul & The Broken Bones. Tickets go on sale Oct. 9 here.

Festive All: Florida Georgia Line has been added as a headliner for Country Thunder Arizona, taking place April 8-11 in Florence, AZ (CAT 9/24). Tickets here.

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

• Nominations are being accepted for the Country Radio Hall of Fame through Oct. 30 here. 
• Cane Peterson and Sabrina From Queens talk about their new chapter at WWWF in Country Aircheck Weekly.
• WFLS/Fredericksburg, VA morning co-host Grayson Williams departed. (9/29)
• WJKR/Columbus, OH OM John Crenshaw departed. (9/28)
• Carletta Blake moved to mornings at WKHK/Richmond, VA. (9/28)

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

1. KENNY CHESNEY/Carry On (Hey Now) 4415 points
2. MORGAN WALLEN/Been By Now (Big Loud) 4134 points
3. JOHN MORGAN/Kid Myself (Night Train/Broken Bow) 4077 points
4. ELLA LANGLEY/Loving Life Again (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers) 3641 points
5. LAUREN ALAINA f/CHASE MATTHEW/All My Exes (Big Loud) 3382 points

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for Sept. 27-30, compared with the same days last week, according to Mediabase.  

1. ELLA LANGLEY/Loving Life Again (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers) +1540 points
2. KENNY CHESNEY/Remember Me That Way (Hey Now) +1438 points
3. LUKE COMBS/Rethink Some Things (Columbia) +1392 points
4. SHINEDOWN/Searchlight (Atlantic) +1040 points
5. LAUREN ALAINA f/CHASE MATTHEW/All My Exes (Big Loud) +1037 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.

The Day I Hang Out: Warner's Gavin Adcock (in cowboy hat) celebrates the release of The Day I Hang It Up with the label's Tom Martens, Cumulus' Travis Daily and the label's Kristen Williams (l-r) at Nashville's Exit/In.

Platinum Moon: Brooks & Dunn's Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn (holding plaque) celebrate the platinum and certifications of "Neon Moon" (8x) and "Boot Scootin' Boogie" (5x). Pictured with (l-r) Sony Music Nashville's Taylor Lindsey, RIAA's Jackie Jones, Maverick's Clarence Spalding and SMN's Ken Robold.

Nothing But Nets: A local group gathers at the Topgolf/Nashville World Series of Golf Satellite Series playoff. Pictured (l-r) are Rhonda and Company's Mackenzie Adkins, LoCash's Preston Brust, singer/songwriter Jamie O’Neal, XLR8 Pictures' Nico Albano, WSIX/Nashville's "Wayne D" Danielson, Nashville Predators' Jack Burk and Topgolf's David McKillips. Nashvillian Cam Cropper (not pictured), son of the late Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Steve Cropper, qualified for tomorrow's finals in Scottsdale, AZ (10/2).