December 12, 2025 News@CountryAircheck.com

Charm City Change: iHeartMedia WPOC/Baltimore morning co-host Bethany Linderman will sign off Dec. 23 to focus on her real estate career. Linderman joined the morning show in 2023 from crosstown Hot AC WWMX (CAT 11/27/23). Prior stops include WPIG/Olean, NY; Hall Communications/Lakeland, FL; CBS Radio/Tampa; and Townsquare/Albany, NY.

iHeart Regional SVP/Programming Jeff Kapugi is seeking a successor to pair with incumbent Michael J, and says, "We’re looking for someone who can vibe with Michael J on-air, bring real spark to our social platforms, and weave themselves into the rhythm of Baltimore while pushing our momentum even further." Apply here.

Shuffle Board: Bonneville Sr. Consultant Mike Dowdle has been named Chairman of the Nashville-based Radio Music License Committee (RMLC), succeeding Salem Media's Ed Atsinger, who held the role for eight years. Additionally, RMLC Exec. Dir. Bill Velez, who has been in that staff postion for 17 years, will be retiring, effective Jan. 1, to be replaced by former Audacy General Counsel Andrew Sutor. Says Velez, “I had postponed my retirement decision until the latest round of licensing deals were completed ... that I will be succeeded by a very experienced radio industry executive ... made my decision that much easier.” Reach Velez here through the end of the year.

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Powers Point: Industry veteran and Westwood One Hot AC format personality Blake Powers has joined Cumulus KSCS & KPLX/Dallas for weekends/swing. It's a return to the market for Powers, who previously worked at Dallas stations KLTY, KLUV and KVIL. His prior Country experience includes stints at KYGO/Denver, WDAF/Kansas City and WDSY/Pittsburgh. Reach him here.

Hanks For The Memories: Lotus KXPT-HD2 & K234BS/Las Vegas, which launched as Classic Country "94.7 Hank FM" in March (CAT 3/27), will move to translator 98.9/K255CT Dec 18. The new translator covers more of the city, and currently simulcasts Sports KKGK-AM.

Insta-Grammy: Country Aircheck’s Grammy Voter's Guide – a quick-reference, category-by-category look at the country nominees, featuring label and artist camps’ totally unbiased pitches – is available here. Voting for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards continues through Jan. 5.

Make Your List, Check It Twice: The deadline to become a member or renew membership for the Academy of Country Music (ACM) in order to vote for the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards is Dec. 15; apply here. Submissions for the Main, Radio and Industry Award categories will be accepted Jan. 5-26 here. The first round of voting opens Feb. 23. The show returns to Las Vegas May 17, airing live on Prime Video from the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

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

Morgan Wallen and Big Loud are 2025's Top Airplay Performer and Label of the Year; full list in Country Aircheck Weekly.
Cumulus/Topeka, KS OM Amber Lee exited. (12/11)
Jelly Roll was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience.
Caroline Fields joined 2PM Sharp as Assoc. VP.
iHeartMedia/Tucson SVPP Nick Bruns departed. (12/8)
Drew Walker was promoted to WCCQ & WXLC/Chicago PD/mornings. (12/8)

ICYMI: Sign-ups for the 2026 Tennessee Songwriters Week are open here. Songwriters can apply to perform in qualifying rounds all over the state and compete for a chance to play their original music at venues including The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Dec. 10, according to Mediabase 24/7.

RILEY GREEN f/ELLA LANGLEY/Don't Mind If I Do (Nash. Harbor) 4222 points
PARMALEE/Cowgirl (Stoney Creek) 3309 points
HARDY/Favorite Country Song (Big Loud) 3164 points
BLAKE SHELTON/Stay Country Or Die Tryin' (Wheelhouse) 3112 points
MEGAN MORONEY/6 Months Later (Col. NY/Columbia) 2688 points

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for Dec. 7-11, compared with the same days last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.

RILEY GREEN f/ELLA LANGLEY/Don't Mind If I Do (Nash. Harbor) +3557 points
ELLA LANGLEY/Choosin' Texas (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers) +2032 points
JASON ALDEAN/How Far Does A Goodbye Go (Macon Music/Broken Bow) +1693 points
BLAKE SHELTON/Stay Country Or Die Tryin' (Wheelhouse) +1566 points
HARDY/Favorite Country Song (Big Loud) +1572 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (12/13): Randy Owen (Alabama), John Anderson, Taylor Swift, Anna Owens, Buck White (The Whites), Matt Lopez (Due West), John Wiggins, Ron Getman, Laurel Altman, Nate Deaton, Darren Wilhite, the late Claudia Mize.

Sunday's Birthdays (12/14): Mary Rene Baxter, Thalia Regas, Mark Razz, Cat Collins, Mike Culotta, the late Charlie Rich.

Monday's Birthdays (12/15): Doug Phelps (Kentucky Headhunters), Susan Myers, Tom Jordan, Kurt Williams, the late A.P. Carter.

High Note: Big Machine Music songwriter Laura Veltz receives a plaque for having co-written the Country Aircheck/Mediabase No. 1 airplay song of 2025 "High Road." Pictured (l-r) are BMLG's Scott Borchetta, Veltz, Country Aircheck's Chuck Aly, and BMM's Mike Molinar and Alex Heddle.

Jingle White Female: Broke/Lyric Ridge's Julia Cole with Lyric Ridge's Louie Newman (l) and WWKA/Orlando's Steve Stewart at the station's Jingle Jam.

Me & A Holiday Cheer: Warner/Harpeth 60's Chris Janson (in hat) with Music Choice's Jim Murphy and wife Angie and Harpeth 60's Ray Vaughn (l-r) backstage at Christmas At The Opry.

Jameron Marlowe: Columbia's Kameron Marlowe with iHeart/Kentucky's Rachel Elliot (c) and the label's Anna Widmer at WAMZ/Louisville's Acoustic Jam.

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