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July 20, 2026 News@CountryAircheck.com

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Built Ford Tough: Former Connoisseur WWWF/Nassau MD/afternoon host Kelly Ford has been named MD/afternoon host for iHeartMedia WMZQ/Washington, DC & WPOC/Baltimore, effective immediately. Ford departed WWWF last week after two years (CAT 7/15). Her prior stops include Backstage Country, WNSH/New York, KYGO/Denver and Ty, Kelly & Chuck. Former WMZQ/WPOC APD/afternoon host Ty Bailey left in April (CAT 4/8), and WMZQ MD/evening host Corey Calhoun recently moved to sister WUBL/Atlanta (CAT 6/16). Reach Ford here.

Paul Vaults: Former Sony Music Nashville Assoc. Dir./National Promotion Paul Grosser has joined Riser House as Dir./Regional Promotion. "[Paul's] broad skill set, creativity, authenticity and passion make him the perfect fit for our strategic vision moving forward," says EVP/Promotion & Artist Brand Strategy Shane Allen. Adds Grosser, "I'm excited to be part of such a forward-thinking company and to help grow the careers of an incredibly talented and hardworking roster of artists." Grosser exited SMN after five years in 2025 amid cuts (CAT 2/11/25). Reach him here.

Love Leaves: Jonathan "J. Love" Campbell has departed Connoisseur, where he had been OM for Country KBAY & Hot AC KEZR, as reported earlier today (7/20) via Breaking News. He joined the company nearly a year ago, after previously serving as PD for Audacy Hot AC KMXB/Las Vegas, with earlier career stops in San Diego, Reno, Detroit, New Orleans and a prior stint in San Jose. Look for news Thursday about plans for the position, a day after KBAY shifts to its new 98.5 frequency (CAT 7/17). J. Love is seeking his next opportunity; reach him here.

Le Flip: Arsenal Media, which purchased Classical CJSQ/Quebec City, QC last fall, has received approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to replace the station's specialty format with a mainstream format. Arsenal indicated on the application that it intends to install a Country format, which will bring CJSQ in line with the company's four other French-language "Hit Country" branded stations throughout the province of Quebec. No word on timing or staff.

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Keep Comm And Carry On: Outgoing Beasley Media Group Chief Communications Officer Heidi Raphael's last day is Aug. 14, and VP/Digital Marketing Jennifer Williams will serve as the interim communications contact until the end of the year. Raphael was recently named Pres./CEO of the New York State Broadcasters Association (CAT 7/13); reach her here until Aug. 14, and Williams here.

Tour Support: Jon Pardi's 19-show Gamblin' Man Tour launches Sept. 17 in Richmond, VA with support from Alexandra Kay and Sadie Bass. Tickets (7 24) here.

LoCash recently embarked on their Let The Country Music Play Tour, with 22 more shows scheduled through mid-December, including Las Vegas, Cincinnati and Kansas City. Tickets here.

Owen Riegling kicks off his In The Feeling North American tour July 26 in Bala, ON, with nine U.S. shows scheduled including Nashville, Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Philadelphia. Tickets here.

Bits & Pieces: KRYS/Corpus Christi, TX PD/morning host "Big Frank" Edwards marks 30 years in Corpus Christi radio today (7/20), with 26 of those years spent at KRYS following time at KOUL. He said on social media, "I look forward to each day as much as I did the first one." Congratulate him here.

The Bobby Bones Show and iHeartRadio have teamed with the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to promote its seventh annual Yellow Glasses Project, which supports literacy programs at schools, libraries and nonprofits. Proceeds from $2 yellow glasses being sold though Sept. 8 at Dollar General stores nationwide fund the campaign, and iHeart has committed a cash donation and on-air PSAs.

Crib Note: Audacy SVPP/Brand Mgr. Justin Cole and wife Marthablair welcomed their second child, daughter Caroline Blair Cole, Thursday (7/16). She joins big sister Sophie Noelle Cole. Mom and baby are "happy and healthy," according to Audacy's Greg “StyckMan” Owens, who also reports Sophie is excited about her new role as big sister.

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

JASON ALDEAN/Don't Tell On Me (Macon Music/Broken Bow)
MORGAN WALLEN/Don't We (Big Loud)
ELLA LANGLEY & MORGAN WALLEN/I Can't Love You Anymore (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers/Big Loud)
LUKE COMBS/Be By You (Columbia)
BAILEY ZIMMERMAN/Chevy Silverado (Atlantic/Warner/WRN)

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for July 19, compared with the same day last week, according to Mediabase.

ELLA LANGLEY/Loving Life Again (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers) +438 points
MORGAN WALLEN/Don't We (Big Loud) +437 points
LUKE COMBS/Rethink Some Things (Columbia) +223 points
CODY JOHNSON/Horseback (CoJo/Warner/WRN) +197 points
RILEY GREEN/Think As You Drunk (Nash. Harbor) +192 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (7/21): Paul Brandt, Brad Mates (Emerson Drive), Sidney Cox, Bill Catino, Barbara Kelly, the late Sara Carter.

Walk The "Adeline:" River House's Tyce Delk with his label team at his Grand Ole Opry debut. Pictured (l-r) are Kayla Adkins, Zebb Luster, Helena Akthar, Delk, Lance Houston, Ally Ramirez and Lauren Lieu.

Before I Have To Knock That Loud Monmouth Out: Broken Bow's Jason Aldean (r) with WKMK/Monmouth, NJ's Mike Ryan opening weekend of his Songs About Us Tour 2026. Recap of the show in tonight's (7/20) Country Aircheck Weekly.

Marlboro Man: MCA's Jacob Hackworth plays WPGB/Pittsburgh's Next BIG Thing. Pictured (l-r) are the label's Jack Christopher, the station's David Edgar, Hackworth and the station's Mike Kasper.

Signage: Singer/songwriter Evan Bartels signs with Joan of Arc Records. Pictured (l-r) are attorney Aaron Rice, Bartels, the label's Cindy Mabe and Intelligent Noise's Rico Csabai.

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