» Arb-er Day: Here is the second of three groups of October Arbitron PPM ratings, listed by metro size. All figures are persons 6+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight, with rankings in parentheses. Atlanta: Citadel's WKHX accelerated for the fifth month in a row, rising 5.3-5.7 (5-5). Its reach extended 49,200 to 791,700 (11-10), tying its best-ever cume rank. Those figures are virtually identical to a year ago, when 'KHX had a 5.7 (4) and 789,900 listeners (10). Clear Channel's WUBL, which has not produced a down month all year, held firm at a 3.8 (9-10). The Bull's audience decreased 8,600 to 651,300 (13-13). In October '08, 'UBL earned a 2.0 (21) and a reach of 562,200 (16). Boston: Greater Media's WKLB slipped 4.5-4.4 (9-9t); that's the fourth consecutive down month since its peak of 5.6 in June. Its cume contracted 22,700 to 550,800 (12-13). Washington, DC: CC's WMZQ declined 3.8-3.5 (12-12t), with its audience size off 19,100 to 614,800, ranking No. 12 for the seventh straight month. In October '08, 'MZQ also had a 3.5 (14t) with an audience of 658,100 (11), which has stood ever since as its cume peak in PPM. Detroit: In its second month as the lone Country outlet, CBS Radio's WYCD capitalized, topping last month's record 6.0 by climbing to a 6.4 (2-2), and is now just 0.1 from the market lead. Cume was off slightly by 12,300 to 921,000, ranking sixth for the fourth consecutive month. A year ago, 'YCD had a 4.8 (8t) with 886,300 listeners (8). Miami: Another record-breaking report for Beasley's WKIS, up 3.7-4.2 (11-11). It was the first time the station has cracked the four-share mark in PPM, and 'KIS has never experienced a decline since the Meter debuted here in April. Cume inched up 500 listeners to 460,700 (15-16). Seattle: The oft-overused "Battle in Seattle" is for real here, with a dead heat between CBS Radio's KMPS and Entercom's KKWF, deadlocked at a 4.2, tied at No. 7 in the market. KMPS slipped from a 4.5 (5), though its cume jumped 67,800 (+12%) to 641,600 (8-8) – its best since June. New Wolf PD Mike Preston arrives as his station eased off last month's peak of 4.3 (6t), but the station posted its highest-ever cume of 624,200 (11-9), up 90,500 (+17%). CC's KNBQ was steady at a 1.9 (23-24), with 1,600 additional cume to tally 308,300 (20-21). Phoenix: CC's KNIX captured the format crown for the first time since the rollout of PPM in April, up 3.6-4.1 (12-9). Both share and rank are station highs, and it was the first time KNIX's share reached the top 10. Cume expanded, too, up 21,000 to 630,500 (12-10). CBS Radio's KMLE decreased 3.8-3.4 (10-13t), but added 1,000 cume for a total of 581,200 (11-12). Minneapolis: After scaling to No. 1 last month, CC's KEEY stepped back 8.9-8.3 (1-2); K102 has never been lower than No. 2 in seven months of PPM. Its audience was off 35,800 to 766,600, ranking fourth for the sixth straight month. San Diego: Lincoln Financial's KSON edged up 3.3-3.4 (13t-12), matching its all-time best PPM share. Cume was up 53,500 (+14%) to 446,600 (13-9), also a high-water mark. CC's KUSS earned its best PPM monthly share and rank, advancing 2.2-2.5 (19t-17). Its audience reach grew 8,500 to 336,600 (15-17). Tampa: CBS Radio's WQYK dipped 6.5-6.2 (4-4), though it picked up 6,500 listeners to total 514,200 (9-10), its most in four months of PPM. CC's WFUS declined 4.4-3.6 (9t-13), but out-cumed WQYK for the second month out of the past three, rising 57,600 (+12%) to 518,900 (10-9), also its best to date and among the top 10 for the first time. St. Louis: Anchored by its CMA Award-winning morning show, Bonneville's WIL jumped 5.4-6.4 (6-5), earning its best share and rank in four months of PPM. Cume slipped 6,200 to 571,200 (7-6); that No. 6 rank is also a new high. CC's KSD grew 3.4-3.7 (17-15), and its audience widened by 31,800 to 505,400 (10-9).

» Sell Game: Clear Channel/Tampa Dir./Sales Chris Soechtig has been upped to corporate SVP/Sales Operations after 16 years with the company. In this new position he'll oversee the creation of a "Sales Operation Center," which will focus on all facets of sales strategy. "Having a sales operations center will give local markets an outstanding opportunity to focus on growing revenue using proven best practices and building on the successes we see in CC markets," says Soechtig.

» Set Sales: Clear Channel's Urban WVAZ & AC WLIT/Chicago LSM Angenette Natkowski is now GSM of Country KSD/St. Louis and Classic Hits KLOU. Natkowski spent eight years as Sr. Account Mgr. for CBS Radio/Chicago and was New Business Development Mgr. for the Windy City's Mallof, Abruzino and Nash Marketing. She succeeds Aaron Hyland, who was upped to Dir./Sales for the cluster in September.

» Gig Alert: Radio Cleveland's WMJW/Cleveland, MO OM James Thomas is seeking an Asst. Operations/AM driver, following Friday (10/30)'s departure of Brock Owens. Thomas is covering the morning shift until a replacement is found. Send airchecks and resumes to his attention here.

» Real Good Man: Curb's Tim McGraw graces the upcoming cover of People magazine. Inside the issue, out Nov. 6, McGraw opens up about his love for his family and how wife Faith Hill motivates him. "Faith saved my life in a lot of ways," McGraw says. "I can go down a dark road sometimes, when you're not feeling good about yourself, and she pulls me out. My wife makes me a better man." More here.

» General Score: Cool Broadcasting's The Scott And Melissa Reeves Show co-host Scott Reeves will join the cast of ABC-TV's General Hospital in December. The former Blue County member will play Chief of Staff Steven Lars Webber. "This will add to the radio show and stations that carry it by having TV exposure, as well as coverage in all the leading soap opera magazines," says Cool Broadcasting's Steve Graham.

» Child's Play: BNA VP/Promotion Bryan Frasher and his wife Traci are two of Nashville Lifestyles' "Unsung Heroes" in the mag's November issue. The couple established Project Paper Doll, a fundraiser for Vanderbilt's Monroe Carell, Jr. Children's Hospital.

» Cue The Red Bull: Added to the 43rd Annual CMA Awards lineup of performers are Martina McBride and a Kid Rock and Jamey Johnson duet. Presenters the Judds, Kris Kristofferson and Lee Ann Womack have also been added to the CMAs, which air live from Nashville's Sommet Center Wednesday at 8pm ET on ABC-TV.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Nov. 4:

1. CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Cowboy Casanova (19/Arista) 2220 points
2. LADY ANTEBELLUM/Need You Now (Capitol) 2216 points
3. ZAC BROWN BAND/Toes (Atlantic/Home Grown/Bigger Picture) 1972 points
4. LUKE BRYAN/Do I (Capitol) 1840 points
5. BRAD PAISLEY/Welcome To The Future (Arista) 1731 points

All daily airplay data is from Mediabase 24/7.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5 Downloads: Here are Play MPE's Top 5 for Nov. 4:

1. BRAD PAISLEY/American Saturday Night (Arista)
2. JONATHAN SINGLETON & THE GROVE/Look Who's Back In Love (Universal South)
3. TRAILER CHOIR/Rockin' The Beer Gut ("Holla" Day Version) (Show Dog)
4. CLAY WALKER/All Wrapped Up In You (Curb)
5. HELLO DAVE/Golden (Mountain Records/Nine North)

Blonde On Blonde: Lyric Street's Bucky Covington hangs with WGKX/Memphis MD Kay Manley before his concert at the Memphis Motorsports Park.

A Man, A Can, A Plan: Universal South's Joe Nichols assists KNIX/Phoenix morning teamers Ben Campbell (l) and Matt McAllister (r) launch their Million Can Crusade at a local Safeway store. The duo are collection a million cans of food for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Steel Eagle: WGH-FM/Norfolk APD/MD Mark McKay (l) and OM/PD John Shomby (r) welcome Steel Magnolia's Joshua Scott Jones and Meghan Linsey for an acoustic lunch performance.