Captain Kirk: CMA Foundation Sr. Dir. Michelle Kirk has been promoted to Exec. Dir. She succeeds Tiffany Kerns, who left the organization in September (CAT 7/23). Kirk first joined the CMA in 2012; reach her here.

Additional CMA promotions include newly named Dir./Lifecycle Marketing Sydnie Hickey, Dir./Business Intelligence Reuben Schwartz, Account Exec./Brand Partnerships Ansley Carlson and Sr. Mgr./Ticketing Katie Karl.

I Did It Highway: Thomas Rhett and Blue Highway have launched Fifty-One/Forty-Nine Records. "When we started talking about what the next chapter could look like, I knew I didn’t simply want to make another deal," says Rhett. "This allows me the opportunity to own the body of work I’ve spent my entire career creating, while still having an ambitious team and global infrastructure around me for my future recordings." Adds Blue Highway CEO Jake Basden, "Having watched Thomas Rhett come into his own and then achieve major success, I am honored to be his partner going forward.” 

Across The Board: Townsquare COO Erik Hellum has been named First Vice Chair for the NAB Radio Board of Directors' Executive Committee, and Salem Media CEO Dave Santrella has been appointed to the Radio Board. Hellum currently represents the Southern Texas District, and assumes the executive committee seat previously held by Salem's Allen Power. Santrella previously served as Board Chair from 2021-2023, and assumes the New England District seat previously held by Power.

Tour Support: Greylan James' 12-city Wedding Season: The Tour kicks off Nov. 6 in Huntington, WV and wraps Dec. 19 in Grand Rapids, MI. Carson Wallace will serve as support; tickets here Friday (10/9).

Brooks & Dunn have booked their first Australian shows in 18 years. After headlining CMC Rocks QLD (March 19-21) in Willowbank, the duo will play arena shows in Sydney (3/24) and Melbourne (3/27). Tickets (10/9) here.

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

• Nominations are being accepted for the Country Radio Hall of Fame through Oct. 30 here. 
• Meredith Andrade joined WQYK/Tampa for afternoons. (10/5)
• Billy Brown returned to WKWS/Charleston, WV for mornings. (10/5)

Bits & Pieces: For the fourth consecutive year, WIRK/West Palm Beach, FL morning co-hosts Tim Leary and Chelsea Taylor welcomed a MammoVan from Baptist Health outside their studio for the day to provide free mammograms for uninsured and underinsured women. Taylor says, "We have some listeners drive more than an hour for this every year ... We’re just thankful to be able to provide this service."

Kameron Marlowe will appear at 11 listening events to preview his upcoming self-titled album. The events kick off tonight (10/6) in Denver and run through Oct. 31 in Minneapolis. Fans can register here, with up to 30 selected per city, including Tulsa, Lubbock, Los Angeles, Tampa, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Des Moines and Lincoln, NE.

Country Aircheck Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Oct. 5, according to Mediabase.

1. JOHN MORGAN/Kid Myself (Night Train/Broken Bow) 4688 points
2. MORGAN WALLEN/Been By Now (Big Loud) 4158 points
3. ELLA LANGLEY/Loving Life Again (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers) 3953 points
4. LAUREN ALAINA f/CHASE MATTHEW/All My Exes (Big Loud) 3427 points
5. ZACH JOHN KING/Get To Drinkin' (SMN) 3272 points

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for Oct. 4-5, compared with the same days last week, according to Mediabase.  

1. JOHN MORGAN/Kid Myself (Night Train/Broken Bow) +1598 points
2. ZACH JOHN KING/Get To Drinkin' (SMN) +810 points
3. KOE WETZEL f/ELLA LANGLEY/Jaded (Col. NY/Records Nashville) +804 points
4. DAN + SHAY/Say So (Warner/WRN) +770 points
5. JASON ALDEAN/Anytime Soon (Macon Music/Broken Bow) +474 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (10/7): Brent Rupard (Everette), Pete O’Heeron, Philip Gibbons, Robby Bridges, Kieran Kane, Bill Dotson, Mary Hamilton, Cindy Hunt, Jon Peterson, Ryan Simpson, Rick Walker, William Patton, Teri Brown, the late Buddy Lee, the late Hugh Cherry.

Kash Cab: The Grammy Museum hosts A NY Evening with Kashus Culpepper. Pictured (l-r) are Left Right Management's Jay Harren, Big Loud's Rachel Heatherly, Culpepper and Left Right Management's Audrey Moentmann and Jay King.