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July 1, 2025 News@CountryAircheck.com

The Nine Print: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for May 2025 (three-month rolling average, 3/6-5/28) compared with March and April. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Albany, NY (Market 67)	WGNA Townsquare 5.7 (1) - 6.3 (2) - 5.8 (2) WKLI Pamal 3.3 (9t) - 3.6 (9t) - 2.6 (11t) WINU Pamal Classic Country 1.2 (16) - 1.7 (14t) - 1.5 (16)
Syracuse, NY (101)	WBBS iHeartMedia 8.2 (1) - 8.7 (1) - 9.0 (1) Largest share since last September. WOLF FoxFur 3.5 (7) - 3.3 (7) - 2.6 (9)

Mc Drop: Max Media WOOZ/Marion-Carbondale, IL PD/midday host Tracy McSherry-McKown has retired. Afternoon host Dave McKenzie succeeds her as PD; he was promoted from longtime part-timer to afternoons last year (CAT 4/4/24). McSherry-McKown has been with the station since 2000, and in Southern Illinois radio for 43 years. In a video tribute posted to Facebook, morning host Kent Zimmer says McSherry-McKown has "done a lot of great things, especially for the community, and for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital." McSherry-McKown posted that her plans "involve margaritas poolside and of course Cotons de Tulear [dogs]," which she and her husband breed and show. Reach her here.

Audacy's Tatar Exits: Audacy/Houston Dir./Regional Promotions Bill Tatar, whose oversight included KILT, has exited. He joined the cluster last year (CAT 1/26/24) after 21 years with crosstown KKBQ. No word on plans for the position.

Last Laugh: PLA Media Sr. Mgr./Media Relations Krista Dykes has departed to launch podcast booking and publicity agency She Laughs Media. Dykes joined PLA last year (CAT 12/2/24), and previously spent eight years as CMA Mgr./Media Relations. She also hosts and produces the Secret Mom Hacks podcast. Reach her here.

Rusty Start: Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston has joined the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Board of Officers and Trustees, and Jody Williams Songs' Jody Williams was re-elected board chair. Executive officers re-elected include Vince Gill (President), Al Giombetti (EVP), David Ross (Secretary) and Ernie Williams (Treasurer). Full list of the museum’s Board of Officers and Trustees here.

Signage: DJ duo AD/HD (Ashley Gorley and Jesse Frasure) signed with The Neal Agency. The two first paired during Thomas Rhett’s Life Changes Tour in 2018 and have deejayed parties and opened for artists including Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj and various country tours.

Tour Support: Austin Snell's Home Sweet Hell tour kicks off Sept. 18 in Columbia, MO before making stops in Atlanta, Philadelphia and more; schedule here.

Festive All: Jeffrey Steele, Jessi Alexander, Randy Houser, Tucker Wetmore, Marti Frederiksen, Mackenzie Carpenter, Lydia Vaughan, Jacob Hackworth, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Elisha Hoffman, Derick Sebastian, Micah Carpenter, Ryan Beaver and more will perform during the Storme Warren-hosted No Ka ‘Oi Songwriters Festival in South Maui Nov. 6-9; tickets here.

Akando Attitude: Get the scoop on Triple Tigers' new promotional arm, Akando Music, read how Keith Urban can keep you from thinking about life outside his concerts, and how Big Machine's Brian Kelley can keep coming up with album after album. It's all in Monday's (6/30) Country Aircheck Weekly.

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

Mike McVay and Julie Talbott are among the Radio Hall of Fame 2025 inductees.
Audacy/Houston VP/Programming and KILT Brand Mgr. Melissa Chase exited.
iHeartMedia Madison & Milwaukee Area President Jeff Tyler retired.

Speak Easy: Applications for the Mentoring And Inspiring Women In Radio (MIW) third annual Speak Up Mentoring Program will be accepted here through July 18. One candidate from radio broadcasting – any department – will be selected and jointly mentored by MIW executives and Media Staffing Network certified coaches.

Bits & Pieces: Tickets are on sale now here for the 22nd annual SOURCE Nashville Hall Of Fame Awards, happening Aug. 26 at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. Brenda Lee, Jeannie Seely and Mandy Barnett return as co-hosts; honorees are Lori Badgett, Cheryl Harris, Gina Keltner, Pam Russell, Mary Self and Kay West (CAT 2/6).

Mountain Dew has partnered with Cole Swindell for its "Thirst Guard" campaign, kicking off this weekend. Mountain Dew-branded Sea-Doos will deliver drinks to boaters and bathers at Lake of the Ozarks, MO July 5 and 6, with Swindell making surprise deliveries at MarineMax Osage Beach July 6. Fans can text 803-MTN-DEWS and send their location for a delivery. Thirst Guards beach stations will also be set up in Lake Travis, TX; Miller Beach, IN; and Myrtle Beach, SC.

The Grand Ole Opry will return to Nashville's Ryman Auditorium July 17 for a show designed to re-create the final 1974 Opry show at the Ryman prior to its move to the Grand Ole Opry House. Performers will include Bill Anderson and Lorrie Morgan, whose father George Morgan was the final artist to perform on that 1974 show. Tickets here. WSM-AM/Nashville will re-air that show and the opening Opry House show for the first time since their original broadcasts on July 17 at 10am CT and July 18 at 10am CT, respectively.

ICYMI: Tucker Wetmore reflects on his sudden success, why he doesn't consider himself famous and his bucket list — including a Sabrina Carpenter collab — with Nylon.

Life Note: The siblings of veteran industry publicist Kim Fowler have started a GoFundMe account with a $60k goal to support her care at The Barton House Memory Care in Nashville for Alzheimer's disease, which she has been battling for several years. They write, "We have been able to fund her memory care services through her disability fund savings and Social Security payments. However, in two months, her disability savings will run out." Fowler's career included stops at Mercury, Sugar Hill Records and her own firm, Two Dog Media. Donate here.

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for June 30, according to Mediabase 24/7.

ELLA LANGLEY/Weren't For The Wind (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers) 4431 points
MORGAN WALLEN/Just In Case (Big Loud) 4164 points
COREY KENT/This Heart (Combustion/RCA) 3595 points
JOSH ROSS/Single Again (Core/Mercury) 3442 points
SAM HUNT/Country House (MCA) 3361 points

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for June 29-30 compared with the same days last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.

ELLA LANGLEY/Weren't For The Wind (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers) +2061 points
MORGAN WALLEN/Just In Case (Big Loud) +950 points
RUSSELL DICKERSON/Happen To Me (Triple Tigers) +520 points
NATE SMITH/Fix What You Didn't Break (RCA) +519 points
SCOTTY MCCREERY f/HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH/Bottle Rockets +512 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (7/2): Don Ellis, Tali Canterbury, Mandy James, Dave Anthony, Pepper Meiler.

Friendsgiving: Broken Bow/Night Train's John Morgan (in hat) with WSLC/Roanoke's Zack Jackson and Brett Sharp, and the label's Misti Douglas (l-r) at Sidewinders Saloon.

Lex Luger: Triple Tigers' Russell Dickerson with WAMZ/WBUL's Rachel Elliot (l) and the label's Julianna Vaughn at the Lexington stop of the Russellmania tour.

No Caller DC: Columbia's Megan Moroney (c) with WMZQ's Jeff Kapugi and wife Laurie at The Anthem in Washington, D.C.