August 3, 2026 News@CountryAircheck.com

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Mobile Prone: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for June 2026 (three-month rolling average, 4/2-6/24) compared with April and May. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Colorado Springs, CO (Market 91)	KCCY iHeartMedia 5.9 (1) - 4.4 (4) - 3.6 (5) KATC Cumulus Does not subscribe.
Madison, WI (88)	WMAD iHeartMedia 4.9 (4) - 4.1 (4) - 4.9 (5) WWQM Mid-West Family 2.9 (7) - 3.0 (7) - 2.6 (10t)
Mobile, AL (100)	WKSJ iHeartMedia 6.9 (1) - 7.3 (1) - 7.7 (1) Largest share since September.
Toledo, OH (108)	WCKY iHeartMedia Classic Country 1.1 (7) - 1.2 (7) - 1.0 (7) WKKO Cumulus Does not subscribe.
Wichita, KS (104)	KZSN iHeartMedia 5.0 (6) - 5.7 (1) - 5.4 (4) KFDI SummitMedia 5.5 (2t) - 4.5 (8t) - 4.7 (6t) KVWF Murfin 2.4 (14) - 1.7 (15) - 1.7 (15)

Manhattan Project: Here are select Nielsen Audio Spring 2026 (4/2-6/24) two-book per year diary ratings for subscribing stations compared with their last books (Spring 2025 and Fall 2025). Ranks (in parentheses) are also among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Boise (80)	KQBL Iliad 6.6 (1) - 4.6 (4) - 5.8 (1) KAWO Townsquare 3.3 (8t) - 2.1 (13t) - 2.8 (10t) KTHI Lotus Classic Country 1.2 (23t) - 2.1 (13t) - 2.8 (10t) KIZN Cumulus Does not subscribe.
Daytona Beach (84)	WKRO Southern Stone 1.1 (6) - 1.7 (6) - 3.5 (4)
Ft. Pierce (85)	WAVW iHeartMedia 5.3 (2t) - 3.9 (5) - 4.8 (1) WIRK/West Palm Beach Hubbard 2.3 (9t) - 2.1 (10t) - 4.2 (3) WPHR R&S Radio 1.9 (11) - 2.6 (8t) - 1.7 (11)
Pueblo, CO (220)	KCCY/Colorado Springs iHeartMedia 4.1 (2) - 5.6 (2t) - 4.4 (2)
Salina-Manhattan, KS (198)	KSKG Eagle 7.4 (1) - 6.7 (1) - 10.0 (1) Largest share since Fall 2023. KXBZ Manhattan 2.5 (8t) - 2.7 (6t) - 3.3 (5) KQLA Eagle 1.8 (10t) - 2.0 (9t) - 2.7 (6t)

Reno 911: Former Cumulus KATC/Colorado Springs PD/morning host Mason Stanfield has re-joined the company as OM for the four-station Reno, NV cluster and PD/morning host for KBUL. He succeeds Bob Richards, who previously held all of those roles until his recent departure for a position outside the industry (CAT 5/4). Richards plans to continue on the air at KBUL as a weekend part-timer. Stanfield joined KATC in 2023 from sister KRMD/Shreveport, LA, where he handled mornings for three years. He departed Cumulus in a round of layoffs in late 2024 (CAT 12/5/24). His previous stops include Las Cruces, NM and Rochester, MN. Reach him here.

Tee'd Up: Following Friday's retirement of Beasley/Augusta, GA OM and WKXC PD/afternoon host Tee Gentry (CAT 7/31), midday host Chris O'Kelley has been named interim PD for WKXC, in addition to his duties as sister News-Talk WGAC & Classic Hits WDRR PD. Blaine "Cody" Jackson has added afternoons at WKXC in addition to her morning co-host duties. She joined the morning show in 2023 from the Beasley/Augusta Digital PD role (CAT 1/3/23), which she had held since 2021. Adam Star remains OM for the cluster (CAT 3/30).

Coach Caryl: Sony Music Nashville SVP/Commercial Partnerships Caryl Atwood has departed the label after 26 years for a new career in clinical mental health counseling and life coaching, having recently earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Memphis. "I'm excited to dedicate the next season of my life to helping people navigate challenges, strengthen relationships and discover what's possible for their lives," she says. Atwood joined Sony (then RCA Label Group) as an Associate Dir. in 1999 after time at Island Records, PolyGram Distribution and Baker & Taylor, and rose to SVP in 2019. Reach her here. Sony is seeking a successor; find the job posting and apply here.

Hanley Departs WCOL: iHeartMedia WCOL/Columbus Zuko and Kayla co-host Kayla Hanley's last day is Friday (8/7). "This wasn’t an easy decision to make, especially since we are on top of the world here on Zuko and Kayla, but I’ve been given an opportunity to work and be home with my girls (especially the mornings), and be more present for them, myself and my family and friends," she shared on social media. Hanley joined the station as an intern in 2013. No word on plans for the morning show.

Late Legends: Network and syndication executive Gary Krantz and Midwest Communications Founder/Pres./CEO D.E. "Duke" Wright are among the nine broadcasters set to posthumously take their place in the Radio Hall of Fame as "Legends" inductees Oct. 8 at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago. Krantz died last year (CAT 1/22/25) and Wright in 2022 (CAT 12/22/22). This year's other Legends inductees are air personaities Lin Brehmer, Vivian Carter, Dale Dorman, Wink Martindale, B. Mitchell Reed, Pierre Robert and Polito Vega. Event tickets here.

Ten, Oh See: Here are June Eastlan Ratings for Country stations in the 10 largest markets it measures, compared with April and June. Eastlan uses online and phone-based recall surveys. Shares are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Chicago	WUSN Audacy 4.1 (8) - 4.1 (7t) - 4.2 (8) WXLC Connoisseur 0.2 (39t) - 0.2 (39t) - 0.2 (39t)
Dallas	KPLX Cumulus 6.0 (2) - 6.0 (2) - 6.0 (2) KSCS Cumulus 4.9 (3) - 5.0 (3) - 5.0 (3)
Houston	KKBQ Radio One 5.8 (3) - 5.9 (3) - 5.7 (3t) KILT Audacy 4.0 (11) - 4.0 (11) - 3.7 (13)
Atlanta	WKHX Cumulus 4.5 (7) - 4.6 (7) - 4.6 (7) WUBL iHeartMedia 3.8 (10t) - 3.7 (11) - 3.7 (11t)
Seattle	KKWF Audacy 6.4 (2) - 6.3 (3) - 6.1 (3) KPLZ Lotus Classic Country 2.8 (17) - 2.9 (15t) - 2.9 (16t) KPNW Hubbard 1.8 (22) - 1.8 (22) - 1.5 (22)
Cincinnati	WUBE Hubbard 8.8 (3) - 8.9 (2t) - 9.0 (2) WYGY Hubbard 1.8 (18) - 2.1 (18) - 2.4 (14t) WHKO/Dayton Cox 1.3 (20) - 1.3 (20) - 1.3 (20) WNNF Cumulus 1.1 (21t) - 1.1 (21) - 1.0 (21)
Raleigh	WQDR Curtis 6.2 (5) - 6.6 (3t) - 6.7 (3) WNCB iHeartMedia 2.3 (14) - 2.4 (14t) - 2.3 (14t)
Greensboro	WTQR iHeartMedia 4.8 (8) - 5.7 (6) - 5.3 (7) WPAW Audacy 3.6 (10) - 3.2 (11) - 3.6 (10) WQDR/Raleigh Curtis 1.8 (16t) - 1.7 (17) - 1.5 (17)
Oklahoma City (second month surveyed)	KTST iHeartMedia 6.3 (5t) - 6.6 (5) KJKE Tyler 4.3 (11) - 4.4 (11) KXXY iHeartMedia Classic Country 3.3 (12) - 3.3 (12) KWFF Chisolm Trail Classic Country 1.1 (21t) - 1.1 (21t)
Memphis	WGKX Cumulus 5.4 (9) - 5.0 (9) - 4.9 (9) WLFP Audacy 4.2 (10) - 4.3 (10) - 4.4 (10) WEBL North Mississippi Media 1.6 (16) - 1.4 (17t) - 1.4 (16t)

Kalispell Check: Here are select June Eastlan Ratings showing Country stations that are leading in the 27 markets measured monthly by the company, compared with April and May. Shares are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

KSJJ/Bend, OR Gross: 13.9 - 13.8 - 13.4
KCTR/Billings, MT Townsquare: 10.7 - 10.0 - 10.6
WOKO/Burlington, VT Hall: 14.4 - 13.6 - 13.1
WQBE/Charleston, WV Bristol: 13.5 - 13.6 - 13.7
WXBQ/Johnson City, TN Bristol: 15.8 - 16.1 - 16.8
KDBR/Kalispell, MT Bee: 13.8 - 15.4 - 15.6
Largest share since Oct. 2024.
WALS/LaSalle, IN Shaw Local: 12.6 - 14.0 - 13.9
WGTR/Myrtle Beach, SC iHeartMedia: 8.5 - 8.4 - 8.3
KXLY/Spokane Queen B: 8.7 - 8.7 - 8.8
WBBS/Syracuse iHeartMedia: 7.4 - 8.6 - 7.8
KEZJ/Twin Falls, ID Townsquare: 14.9 - 16.2 - 15.3
WACO/Waco, TX iHeartMedia: 15.2 - 15.9 - 15.6

Tour Support: Bailey Zimmerman has cancelled 10 European dates that had been set to kick off Aug. 27, saying in a social media post that he "needs to take this time to focus on important family matters." He will continue to play his August North American dates.

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Garth Brooks has added two Chicago shows in September to his Blame It All On My Roots Arena Tour. Tickets for the new shows go on sale Aug. 7 here.

Wynonna Judd will embark on her 15-city The Hard Truth Tour Oct 8 in New York before wrapping Nov. 21 in Gary, IN. Tickets (8/7) here.

Wildpowers And Wild Horses: The deadline for 2026 Power 31 nominations is tomorrow (8/4). Submit names here for the reader-voted list, which will be published in Country Aircheck's 20th anniversary special edition September print issue. Individuals with the greatest influence over airplay decisions, as well as those at the forefront of guiding/developing artists and music may be nominated. Submit nominations here.

Contact Update: Civic Media SVP/Product Aaron Carreno has departed the company after three years, having initially served as Civic's VP/Programming. Civic operates 30 stations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan, seven of which are Country. Prior to Civic, Carreno was Brand Mgr. for Mountain Dog Media WFON/Fon Du Lac, WI and Top 40 WCLB/Sheboygan, WI (CAT 8/8/22); previous stops include Audacy, iHeartMedia and Midwest Communications. He retains his on air role with Sinclair WMSN-TV/Madison, WI. Carreno is seeking a new radio or voicetracking opportunity; reach him here. No word on plans for the Civic role.

Bits & Pieces: Ten-year-old Rylee joined WUBE/Cincinnati's morning show, Jesse & Anna, to thank Lainey Wilson for inviting her onstage at Paycor Stadium, and sang "4X4XU." Watch the video here.

Zac Brown Band celebrated their 15th performance at Boston’s Fenway Park by surpring everyone in attendance with a Margaritaville at Sea cruise.

ICYMI: Alabama's Randy Owen shares his life story in the new documentary, My Home's in Alabama: The Randy Owen Story, premiering Saturday (8/8) at 7pm CT on Alabama Public Television.

Crib Note: Parker McCollum and wife Hallie Ray Light welcomed their second child, son Rocker Tommy Light McCollum, July 30. He joins their almost two-year-old-son, Major Yancey Tyler McCollum, in the family (CAT 8/12/24). The singer rescheduled two tour dates to be there for the birth.

Russell Dickerson and his wife, Kailey Dickerson, are expecting their third child. They revealed the news in an Instagram video, with Kailey writing, "One more face in that hallway hall of fame." The couple has two sons.

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for the week ending August 1, according to Mediabase.

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)
JASON ALDEAN/Don't Tell On Me (Macon Music/Broken Bow)

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for August 2, compared with the same day last week, according to Mediabase.

MORGAN WALLEN/Been By Now (Big Loud) +571 points
ELLA LANGLEY & MORGAN WALLEN/I Can't Love You Anymore (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers/Big Loud) +358 points
LAUREN ALAINA f/CHASE MATTHEW/All My Exes (Big Loud) +339 points
STELLA LEFTY/Boston (Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost) +241 points
ASHLEY MCBRYDE/What If We Don't (Warner/WRN) +210 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (8/4): Chris Butterick, Craig Wiseman, the late Tammy Brown, the late Les Acree.

Famous Friends: Country Radio Hall of Fame inductees Bruce Logan, Marci Braun and Michael J (l-r) last night (8/2) at Nashville's Odie's.

SiriusXM The Flyway: SiriusXM's Steve Blatter with Warner's Blake Whiten (l) and River House/Warner/WAR’s Hudson Westbrook at the Philadelphia stop of Morgan Wallen's Still The Problem Tour.

Top Secret: Leo33's Zach Top at KKWF/Seattle's Secret Show. Pictured (l-r) are the station's Aaron Crawford, Top and the station's Ellen Tailor and Ron Koons.