November 24, 2025 News@CountryAircheck.com

Little Rock, Big Jump: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for October 2025 (three-month rolling average, 7/24-10/15) compared with August and September. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Columbia, SC (Market 89)	WCOS iHeartMedia 5.4 (3) - 4.8 (4) - 6.3 (2)
Des Moines, IA (70)	KHKI Cumulus 6.8 (2) - 6.7 (2) - 7.2 (1t) First No. 1 since Dec. 2024. KJJY Cumulus 3.3 (11) - 4.0 (7t) - 5.3 (5) Largest share since Aug. 2024.
Little Rock, AR (94)	KSSN iHeartMedia 5.6 (4) - 6.1 (4) - 8.5 (2) Largest share since June 2023. KMJX iHeartMedia Cl. Country 5.2 (6) - 4.6 (6) - 3.1 (9)
Monterey, CA (98)	KTOM iHeartMedia 3.8 (4t) - 4.3 (3) - 3.1 (7t)
Spokane, WA (90)	KDRK Stephens 2.4 (10t) - 2.5 (8t) - 2.2 (8t) KICR Blue Sky 2.8 (8t) - 2.9 (7) - 2.2 (8t) KXLY QueenB Does not subscribe.
Springfield, MA (102)	WRNX iHeartMedia 3.9 (5t) - 4.0 (4) - 4.2 (4)

Chambers Choir: Townsquare KUAD/Fort Collins, CO morning co-host Tanner Chambers will be departing the station tomorrow (11/25) for an as-yet-undisclosed new opportunity in the industry. Co-host Kerri Mac remains. Chambers joined KUAD in 2023 after four years in mornings at KFGY/Santa Rosa, CA (CAT 7/5/23). He previously was a producer for The Fitz Show. KUAD Brand Mgr. Matt Sparx is seeking a successor; apply here.

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Bear's Back: PMB Broadcasting WKCN/Columbus, GA morning host Wade "Bear O'Brian" Collier is back on the air after several months away following a cancer diagnosis and quadruple bypass heart surgery. The station posted a welcome back message on its Facebook page last week. See local media coverage of his return here.

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Um-Poppa-Um-Poppa, Wow Wow: Manager Jim Halsey will receive the CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award during the Keith Urban-hosted 2025 CMA Touring Awards Jan. 27 in Nashville. Categories include Manager, Publicist, Crew, Talent Agent and Venue (full list here); voting will run Dec. 1-16.

Luverne, Surely: Connoisseur Media is selling four stations in two markets, including Country KLQL/Luverne, MN & KJAM-FM/Madison, SD, to Christensen Broadcasting/Christensen Broadcast Group for an undisclosed price. The transactions are pending FCC approval and expected to close early next year.

Pick-Up Sticks: Former KBEQ/Kansas City PD Todd Nixon's Sticks Media is acquiring the currently silent former Hot AC KMSO/Missoula, MT and former Classic Hits KHDV/Darby-Hamilton, MT from Sheila Callahan & Friends, Inc. Both went dark earlier this year. Nixon plans to re-launch them on Dec. 8, with KMSO returning to its previous format and KHDV re-launching with an as-yet-undisclosed new format and branding. Nixon is also seeking a VP/Sales for Sticks Media that "includes equity for the right person." Reach him here.

Tube For Won: The 59th Annual CMA Awards won Wednesday night's (11/19) ratings race for ABC, drawing 6.04 million viewers Live + Same Day – down from last year's 6.08m, according to thetvratingsguide.com. The show posted a 0.65 rating in the 18-49 demo, down from 2024's 0.81.

Point Of Origins: Warner Records Nashville's James Marsh was named Executive of the Year at the Nov. 20 Origins Impact Awards in Nashville, celebrating "artists and community members making a marked difference in the country music space." Angie K was named Artist of the Year, Rissi Palmer's Apple Music show Color Me Country Radio won the Cultural Impact award and the collaborative group Song Suffragettes won the Community Advocate award. See the full list of winners here.

Mind The Gap: CRS '26 will include "Cycle of A Song" sessions featuring Koe Wetzel and Chase Matthew. Sessions also include "Living in the Gap: Communicating, Managing & Working Across Generations," "The Disruptors: What If You Took a Risk?," "Your Mic! Your Market! Your Moment as the OG Influencer" and "It’s Not the Size of the Staff: It’s How You Use It." A two-day "thankful sale" (11/24-25) is now offering 10% off the $698 three-day registration rate. No promo code is needed; register to attend March 18-20 at the Omni Nashville Hotel here.

Tour Support: Jon Pardi's Honkytonk Hollywood Tour has added US and UK dates in 2026, beginning in London (5/15) and wrapping in Belfast (5/23). Joining on select dates is Randall King; tickets here Friday (11/28).

Zach Bryan will embark on the With Heaven On Tour March 7 in St. Louis with 34 U.S. and European dates before wrapping Oct. 10 in Auburn, AL. Support acts include Kings of Leon, Dijon, Alabama Shakes, Ben Howard, Caamp, MJ Lenderman, Gregory Alan Isakov, J.R. Carroll, Gabriella Rose, Keenan O’Meara and Fey Fili. Tickets (12/5) here.

Benefit News: WQNU/Louisville morning host Dingo’s annual Bikes or Bust saw him camp out on a scissor lift for four days, helping collect a record 2,565 bikes benefitting Louisville’s Marine Corps Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army of Southern Indiana.

Nicolle Galyon's Hits From The Heartland will feature a writers round with Rodney Clawson, Jimmy Robbins and Chris Tompkins in Hutchinson, KS Jan. 17; tickets here.

The Randy Rogers Family Foundation and Geezerfest donated $20,000 to Hope Hospice.

Grand Cru: Hallmark will air A Grand Ole Opry Christmas Nov. 29; filming locations included the Opry House (CAT 8/11). Opry members Brad Paisley, Bill Anderson, T. Graham Brown, Dailey & Vincent, Jamey Johnson, Riders In The Sky, Pam Tillis and Gary Mule Deer, Opry member elect Suzy Bogguss, as well as Rhett Akins, Maggie Baugh, Drew Baldridge, Tigirlily Gold and Mickey Guyton make appearances or cameos. In other Opry news, the show returns to New York’s Carnegie Hall March 20.

One Last Blast: Minneapolis-based radio convention The Conclave is returning Sept. 15-17, 2026 for what is being billed as its 45th and final year. Exec. Dir. Emeritus Tom Kay says, "The curtain must now come down on this noble learning institution." No word yet on hotel location or registration info, although the cost to attend will be $99 for a limited time.

ICYMI: Hudson Westbrook has joined Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Lainey Wilson as the fourth artist to have merchandise in Buc-ees stores nationwide.

Chase Rice teamed with Boot Barn and Cody James for a collaboration to showcase the new curated collection from Cody James Black 1978.

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for the week ending Nov. 22, according to Mediabase 24/7.

CHASE MATTHEW/Darlin' (Warner/WAR)
LAINEY WILSON/Somewhere Over Laredo (Broken Bow)
RILEY GREEN f/ELLA LANGLEY/Don't Mind If I Do (Nash. Harbor)
PARMALEE/Cowgirl (Stoney Creek)
PARKER MCCOLLUM/What Kinda Man (MCA)

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for Nov. 23, compared with the same day last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.

PARKER MCCOLLUM/What Kinda Man (MCA) +785 points
LAINEY WILSON/Somewhere Over Laredo (Broken Bow) +676 points
MORGAN WALLEN/20 Cigarettes (Big Loud) +404 points
BLAKE SHELTON/Stay Country Or Die Tryin' (Wheelhouse) +380 points
ELLA LANGLEY/Choosin' Texas (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers) +290 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (11/25): Amy Grant, Eddie Stubbs, Steve Lassiter, Grace Schoper, Patsy Wells.

Bell Bottom iHeartCountry: Broken Bow's Lainey Wilson with iHeart's "Wayne D” Danielson at Audio Productions.

Let's (Cat) Fight: Quartz Hill's Thompson Square, MCA's Vincent Mason and Valory's MacKenzie Carpenter help WYCT/Pensacola's 11th Annual Miracle on Palafox raise more than $18,500 for the station’s Christmas Wish program with the United Way of West Florida. Pictured (l-r) are the station's Brent Lane, Mason, United Way's Laura Gillium, Gulf Winds' Pam Hatt, The Cat, Thompson Square's Shawna and Keifer Thompson, Carpenter and the station's Chris Clare and Jordan Glass.

Hootie & The Lowfish: Triple Tigers' Scotty McCreery plays WUSN/Chicago's final Low Dough show of the year. Pictured (l-r) are the station's Scotty Kay and Melissa McGurren, McCreery, the station's Marci Braun, Austin Huff and Kyle Milnamow, and the label's Julianna Vaughn.

My Girl Wants To After Party All The Time: Valory's RaeLynn with Audacy's Tim Roberts at the label's CMA Awards after party.

Word Of South: Big Loud's Ernest celebrates the release of Live From The South at SiriusXM The Highway's Music Row Happy Hour. Pictured (l-r) are SXM's Jordan Hatton, Ernest and SXM's Victoria Alfonso and "Trapper" John Morris.