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| January 20, 2026 News@CountryAircheck.com |
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Feline Fine: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for December 2025 (three-month rolling average, 9/18-12/10) compared with October and November. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.
Albany, NY (Market 68) |
WGNA Townsquare 6.4 (1) - 6.5 (2) - 6.4 (3) WKLI Pamal 3.5 (7) - 3.1 (8) - 3.8 (9) Largest share since June 2022. WINU Pamal Classic Country 0.9 (17) - 1.1 (16t) - 1.0 (19t) |
Syracuse, NY (101) |
WBBS iHeartMedia 7.9 (1) - 7.0 (2) - 7.0 (2) WOLF FoxFur 3.3 (7) - 3.1 (8) - 3.4 (6) |
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Augusta-tory: Here are select Nielsen Audio Fall 2025 (9/18-12/10) two-book per year diary ratings for subscribing stations compared with their last books (Fall 2024 and Spring 2025). Ranks (in parentheses) are also among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.
Augusta, ME (Market 231) |
WEBB Townsquare 4.1 (7t) - 4.9 (5t) - 5.7 (4) WCTB Mountain Wireless Cl. Country 5.2 (4t) - 3.9 (8) - 3.8 (7t)
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Bangor, ME (208) |
WQCB Townsquare 11.7 (1) - 8.1 (2) - 8.7 (3) WBFB Blueberry 4.1 (5t) - 3.7 (7t) - 3.7 (7t)
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Manchester, NH (191) |
WOKQ Townsquare 2.8 (4t) - 5.7 (3) - 5.3 (3) WMLL Saga 3.3 (3) - 3.1 (5t) - 1.8 (5t) |
Portland, ME (92) |
WPOR Saga 4.6 (5t) - 4.9 (3t) - 4.5 (5t) WTHT Binnie 4.9 (4) - 4.9 (3t) - 3.6 (7) |
Portsmouth, NH (118) |
WOKQ Townsquare 8.3 (1) - 6.7 (2) - 6.1 (2) WTBU iHeartMedia 0.9 (9t) - 0.8 (8t) - 1.1 (8t) |
Utica, NY (172) |
WFRG Townsquare 11.1 (1) - 9.6 (1) - 7.1 (2) WBUG Roser 1.3 (8) - 2.5 (6t) - 1.3 (8t) |
Watertown, NY (237) |
WFRY Stephens 16.9 (1) - 16.9 (1) - 16.7 (1) WEFX Community 2.4 (6t) - 3.6 (6) - 2.6 (7) |
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Kat Call: iHeartMedia WKKT/Charlotte has moved morning co-host Graham Bunn to middays, leaving "Sarah Lee" Owensby solo in mornings. The two were paired last April (CAT 4/7/25), when former Amazon Amp personality Bunn joined then seven year incumbent co-host Lee following the retirement of Country Radio Hall of Famer Paul Schadt (CAT 10/17/24). Middays had previously been split between Atlanta-based iHeart personality Angie Ward (10am-1pm) and WKKT PD Ashley Wilson (1-3pm). Prior to his two years with Amazon Amp (CAT 3/10/22), Bunn hosted a Spotify podcast and spent four years in mornings at KKGO/Los Angeles. |
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Davis Drafted: Former WTVC-TV/Chattanooga reporter Jaclyn Davis has joined
Audacy's crosstown WUSY as morning co-host, where she is paired with longtime incumbent Ken Hicks. Davis succeeds
Daniel Wyatt, who departed last July for a position outside the industry (CAT 6/30/25). SVPP/Brand Mgr. Justin Cole has been filling in on mornings since. |
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Radial Pulse: Carriage Radio Christian Country WLJA/Jasper, GA's Griffin Adkins has moved to the morning co-host role, where he is paired with Dan Ratcliffe as The Morning Pulse with Dan & Griffin. Adkins joined the station in June, overseeing promotions and assisting with programming. He was previously APD/morning producer at Cont. Christian WAIA/Atlanta. In addition to his on-air role, Adkins takes on expanded programming and brand oversight responsibilities for WLJA. |
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Bring My Flowers Now: Audacy KWJJ/Portland, OR morning hosts Nick Steele and Kristen Flowers will receive the Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award during CRS 2026, taking place
March 18-20 at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Their annual Nick & Kristen’s Medical Debt Payoff initiative has raised enough funds to eliminate $2.17 million in local medical debt across the Pacific Northwest. Read more about their efforts in Country Aircheck Weekly. Register for CRS 2026 here.
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Tour Support: Kenny Chesney has added six July shows to his summer residency at Las Vegas' Sphere, which kicks off June 19 (CAT 10/21/25). Tickets for the new dates (July 1, 3, 4, 8, 10 & 11) go on sale Jan. 30 here. |
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Mentor Corps: Cumulus/Indianapolis GSM Kelly Harlow Pruitt is among the four radio executives selected for Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc. (MIW)'s Erica Farber Mentorship in Management Class of 2026. She will be joined by Crawford/Chicago Mgr./Business Operations Angela Williams, Salem/Tampa, Orlando & Atlanta Mgr./Regional Digital Sales Cassie Reimold and WFTK/Cincinnati PD/morning host Bridget England. |
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Bits & Pieces: Suzy Bogguss was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry Jan. 16 by Reba McEntire, who celebrated her own 40th Opry member anniversary that same night. Watch Bogguss' induction here.
In other news, the Opry has partnered with Julien's to auction off a one-of-a-kind Dolly Parton-autographed microphone stand to mark Parton's 80th birthday. Proceeds benefit the Opry Trust Fund. The auction is open through Feb. 2 here.
Megan Moroney and Jamey Johnson raised $315k for their respective
charities, The Megan Moroney Foundation and the Give It Away Foundation, with their Jan. 15 Mojo show in Birmingham, AL (CAT 12/17/25).
Belmont University in Nashville has refreshed its Dolly Parton-themed "Dolly U" curriculum with five spring semester courses, including "Dollyology: Branding, Leadership & Strategic Communication in the Dollyverse." The school's Department of Theatre and Dance Repertory Company will also create a show based on the singer's children’s book, Billy The Kid Makes It Big, and perfom it at local elementary schools.
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Chronicle: Veteran Las Vegas broadcaster and former KWNR, KCYE and Classic Hits KKLZ personality Bob Bishop died Jan. 16. He worked for iHeartMedia from 1990-2011 before joining Beasley in 2012. Prior radio jobs include WAOP/Otsego, MI; and KCWM & KVIC/Victoria, TX. He was inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame in 2004. No word on funeral plans. Watch the KKLZ morning show's tribute to Bishop here.
Oklahoma broadcaster Billy Parker, a 1991 Country Radio Hall of Fame inductee, died Jan. 19 at the age of 88. According to his Hall of Fame bio, Parker began his radio career in 1959 at KFMJ/Tulsa, then worked at KFDI/Wichita and KPLR/Oklahoma City, before leaving radio to become front man for Ernest Tubb's Texas Troubadours. He retuned to radio in 1971 at KVOO/Tulsa, where he worked for 44 years while continuing to record. He was inducted into the Western Swing Hall of Fame in 1993 and awarded the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters' Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995, in addition to winning air personality awards from the CMA in 1974 and the ACM in 1975, 1977, 1978 and 1984. See KVOO's tribute to Parker here. Funeral services will take place Jan. 28 at 1pm at First Baptist Church in Tulsa.
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| Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Jan. 19, according to Mediabase 24/7.
- HARDY/Favorite Country Song (Big Loud) 4584 points
- ELLA LANGLEY/Choosin' Texas (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers) 3736 points
- JASON ALDEAN/How Far Does A Goodbye Go (Macon Music/Broken Bow) 3535 points
- GEORGE BIRGE/It Won't Be Long (Records Nashville) 3435 points
- MORGAN WALLEN/20 Cigarettes (Big Loud) 3356 points
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| Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for Jan. 18-19, compared with the same days last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.
- SHABOOZEY & JELLY ROLL/Amen (Empire/Magnolia/Stoney Creek) +1294 points
- MORGAN WALLEN/20 Cigarettes (Big Loud) +892 points
- LUKE COMBS/Sleepless In A Hotel Room (Columbia) +790 points
- JUSTIN MOORE/Time's Ticking (Valory) +746 points
- HARDY/Favorite Country Song (Big Loud) +675 points
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Tomorrow's Birthdays (1/21): Sam Grow, Jimmy Ibbotson (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), Rick Trevino, Nicole George, Jackie Straka, the late Mac Davis.
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Your PlayPlace: Back Blocks/Big Loud's Ashley Cooke (c) with WKLI/Albany's Pete Kelly and the label's Nikki Wood at the station's second annual Concert For A Cause, which raised more than $4,500 for Ronald McDonald House Albany. |
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Take A Little Rock With You: Broken Bow's Jason Aldean kicks off his Full Throttle Tour 2026 in Little Rock. Pictured (top, c) is Aldean with KSSN's Jess Jennings and husband Blaine; (bottom, l-r) Jennings, RCA's Nate Smith and KSSN's Bo Dalton.
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Aces High: The newest member of the Grand Ole Opry, Suzy Bogguss (holding trophy), is welcomed by the Opry's Brooke Stuart, Gina Keltner and Nicole Judd, members Rudy Gatlin, Rhonda Vincent, Steve Wariner, Trisha Yearwood, Terri Clark, Kathy Mattea, Reba McEntire, Ben Isaacs and Mark Wills, and the Opry's Dan Rogers (l-r) at her induction Friday (1/16). |
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