» Pulling Rank: Here are the first of three days' worth of October Arbitron PPM monthly ratings, listed by metro size. All figures are persons 6+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight, with rankings in parentheses. Los Angeles: Mt. Wilson's KKGO slipped 3.1-2.8 (12t-15t), but that beat its 2.4 (19t) from a year ago. Its cume was up for the second straight month, rising 17,300 to 1,177,600, ranking No. 21 for the eighth month in a row, and No. 2 in cume for the entire country. A year earlier, Go Country had 1,109,000 listeners (24). CBS Radio's KFRG/Riverside edged upward 0.3-0.4 (47t-47). Its reach also increased, up 11,500 to 366,100 (40-41). Chicago: After a record-setting September, CBS Radio's WUSN settled back 4.8-4.6 (3-5). In October '08, 'USN posted a 3.8 (8). Following two consecutive best-ever cume months, the station's reach fell 124,500 to 1,260,900 (10-11), but US99 still remains America's most-listened-to Country station. In October '08, it had 1,105,700 listeners (15). San Francisco: Entercom's KBWF fell for the fourth straight month since its peak of 3.7 in June, declining 2.1-1.9 (20t-21), though that was better than its 1.8 (20t) from a year prior. The Wolf's audience grew 6,200 to 501,200 (21-24), compared with 557,200 (19) from October '08. Empire's KRTY/San Jose was steady at a 1.0 (31-28t), with its audience reaching a new PPM high of 258,600 (31-30t). A year ago, 'RTY had a 0.9 (34) with 192,300 listeners (35). Houston: Cox's KKBQ decreased 4.1-3.8 (9-10), down from a 4.8 (5) in October '08. Its cume was off a modest 6,100 to 965,900 (7-7), bettering the 936,500 (7) from the year before. CBS Radio's KILT-FM was level at a 3.2 (12t-14t). That also matched its performance from the previous October (13t). KILT-FM's reach climbed 23,200 (10-9) to 903,800, topping October '08's 898,100 (9). Cox's Classic Country KTHT earned its first increase in five months, rising 1.9-2.0 (22-21); a year ago it scored a 2.4 (20t). 'THT's cume bumped up 38,300 to 573,900 (20-19), slightly below October '08's 582,700 (20). Among adults 25-54, KKBQ reclaimed the format lead for the first time since May, rising 3.0-3.4 (15-13), while KILT-FM eased 3.4-3.3 (11t-14t); KTHT grew 1.2-1.3 (24t-24). With 18-34s, KKBQ declined 3.9-3.2 (8-12), and KILT-FM advanced 2.4-2.5 (17-14t). Dallas: Following three consecutive No. 1 monthlies, Cumulus' KPLX declined 6.1-5.5 (1-2), giving it virtually the same ratings as its 5.6 (2) in October '08 when PPM debuted in the Metroplex. Its cume was off 129,600 to 1,173,700 (3-4), compared to its best-ever 1,311,200 (3) a year before. Meanwhile, Citadel's KSCS generated its best book since January, gaining 4.0-4.2 and jumping to a PPM-best third place, up from No. 6. In October '08, 'SCS had a 3.6 (8), and has earned better ratings than that each month since. Its cume picked up 10,300 listeners to tally 906,400 (9-10), compared to 950,900 (10) a year earlier. Philadelphia: After two straight up-ticks, Beasley's WXTU dipped 4.4-4.2 (7-8t). That's still beats October '08's 4.0 (8t). 'XTU's audience was down 31,400 to 699,200 (16-16). In October '08, the station attracted 704,900 listeners (15). Riverside: CBS Radio's KFRG slipped 3.9-3.8 (7-7t), with its reach increasing 44,100 (16%) to 318,700 (11-10). Those shares tied 'FRG's numbers from a year ago, when it ranked No. 8. Mt. Wilson's KKGO registered its best-ever 6+ here, advancing 1.4-1.6 (35-31), with cume up 28,900 (34%) to 114,100. San Jose: Empire's KRTY delivered its third straight improvement, 3.8-3.9 (9-9), giving the station its best monthly share since September '08 (3.9), when it was also ninth. 'RTY notched its best-ever cume in the PPM era with 209,600 (9), up 10,400 from a month ago. That's 47% better than October '08's 143,000 (21).

» Kurtis-y Call: After 36 years with the company, Journal Broadcast Group SVP/CFO Ron Kurtis has announced his retirement effective Dec. 27. Among its 33 radio properties, Journal owns six Country stations in Tulsa, Wichita and Springfield, MO.

» Flip Out: Citadel's Classic Country KCSF-AM/Colorado Springs will flip to Sports at midnight tonight (11/4). The station's staff remains intact.

» Getcha Summit: The CMA is holding its fourth annual Marketing Summit next week (11/10-11) linking the corporate world with country music. The event includes educational panels, speakers, a tour of a recording studio and session with Jamie O'Neal, as well as a tour of the Premiere Radio remotes. Among the companies participating are Brown-Forman, Chevy, Coca-Cola, Cracker Barrel, Dollar General, General Mills, Nissan, Shoney's, Tasti D-Lite and Wrangler. "Ultimately, our goal is to introduce them to the premier CMA properties, including the CMA Awards and CMA Music Festival, as well as enhance their knowledge of opportunities to partner with other country music events and artists," says MS&L VP/Strategic Partnerships Sheri Warnke.

» Good On Ya: Cold River's Katie Armiger helped WHKX & WHQX/Bluefield, WV raise $1,200 for the Bryson Fanning Foundation with an acoustic show last Friday (10/30). The foundation helps families with children who have histiocytosis, and is named after a local two-and-a-half-year-old suffering from the disease. Armiger is pictured with WHJX & WHQX PD/MD Joe Jarvis' daughter Samantha.

» The Rateful Deed: The deadline for CRS-41's Advance Rate of $549 is Dec. 18. Seminar festivities include keynoter Dave Ramsey, Taylor Swift at the Music City Jam and the inaugural CRB/Country Aircheck Awards, to be held during the New Faces Show. Make your award nominations here. CRS-41 is Feb. 24-26, 2010 at the Nashville Convention Center. Register here.

» Tweet Thing: CMAawards.com will host The CMA Awards Twitter Viewing Party during the 43rd Annual CMA Awards (11/11) with tweets, live photos and discussion questions. The site will house a column for fans as well as another for "insiders" made up of artists, CMA staff, credentialed media and volunteers. Fans can also submit their award choices through the "My Picks" feature on Facebook and the CMA site.

» Barrel Role: Arista's Alan Jackson will hold a meet-and-greet in-store appearance Tuesday (11/10) 9-11am at a temporary Cracker Barrel Old Country Store set up at First and Broadway in downtown Nashville. A purchase from his lifestyle collection is necessary for access to the autograph line.

» Autumnal Equinox: Air Force Master Sgt. Bubba Beason has been selected as "America's Hero" in the Chevy Salutes America's Heroes contest. Beason will be awarded a 2010 Chevy Equinox on ABC's Good Morning America Tuesday (11/10). The Beason family will also attend the 43rd Annual CMA Awards with VIP seats and a tour of the red carpet. Beason's eight-year-old son Christopher nominated his father for his work raising awareness for mothers who've lost sons in the war on terror. Chevy chose five stories and the public voted the winner.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Nov. 3:

1. LADY ANTEBELLUM/Need You Now (Capitol) 2222 points
2. CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Cowboy Casanova (19/Arista) 2164 points
3. LUKE BRYAN/Do I (Capitol) 1879 points
4. ZAC BROWN BAND/Toes (Atlantic/Home Grown/Bigger Picture) 1863 points
5. KENNY CHESNEY f/DAVE MATTHEWS/I'm Alive (BNA)

All daily airplay data is from Mediabase 24/7.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5 Downloads: Here are Play MPE's Top 5 for Nov. 3:

1. BRAD PAISLEY/American Saturday Night (Arista)
2. JONATHAN SINGLETON & THE GROVE/Look Who's Back In Love (Universal South)
3. CLAY WALKER/All Wrapped Up In You (Curb)
4. TRAILER CHOIR/Rockin' The Beer Gut ("Holla" Day Version) (Show Dog)
5. KENNY CHESNEY f/DAVE MATTHEWS/I'm Alive (BNA)

Work Stoppage: Redneck/CO5's Gretchen Wilson hand-delivers her single "Work Hard, Play Harder" to WSIX/Nashville PD Keith Kaufman.

Small Brown Girl: 19/BNA's Kellie Pickler debuts her new brown locks at WGTY/York, PA. Pictured (l-r) are PD Scott Donato, Pickler, MD Dan Douglas and morning co-host Kim Alexander.

Backin' Black: Slugfest's Brittini Black did her part to fatten up the Country Aircheck staff this morning (11/4) by bringing a slew of sugary goodness. During her visit, Black also performed three songs including her single "America." Pictured (l-r) are CA's Jeff Green, picker Benji Harris, CA's Lauren Tingle and Lon Helton, Black, CA's Gabrielle Graf, manager Sandra Lee, CA's Mary Forest Findley, Slugfest's Nancy Peacock and Queenie Mullinix and CA's Chuck Aly.