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In This Issue (1/12) 

“I watched TV on the couch with Johnny, and June invited all of us to eat lunch in her dining room.”

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Radio Vision

Preston-Cooper11426.jpg Swamp Meet: Valory's Preston Cooper (c) with WTGE/Baton Rouge's Jimmy Brooks, Bri Lynn and Brittany Rose, and the label's Chris Waters (l-r) during a station visit.
atlus11426.jpg Wife Style: Stoney Creek's Atlus (c) with WPOC/Baltimore and WMZQ/Washington D.C.'s Jeff Kapugi and wife Laurie.
Julianna-Rankin11426.jpg Signage: Singer/songwriter Julianna Rankin (c) commemorates her Big Loud Texas signing with the label's Jon Randall and Miranda Lambert, Red Light's Allie Sisoian and the label's Brendon Anthony.
tymyers11326.jpg Select Group: Columbia/Records Nashville's Ty Myers celebrates the gold certification of The Select and platinum certification of “Thought It Was Love.” Pictured (l-r) are Starstruck's Narvel Blackstock, Records Nashville's Barry Weiss, Myers and Records Nashville's Andrew Saltman and Joe Fisher.
Tyler-Nance11326.jpg Tour de Nance: Santa Anna/Akando's Tyler Nance (in hat) with the label's JC Coffey and WWKA/Orlando's Steve Stewart and Melissa Quinones (l-r).
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This Chucktown's Been Too Good To Us: Curb's Dylan Scott (c) with WCKN/Charleston, SC's Jeff Cushman (l) and Hunter Meyer.

Adam-Doleac11326.jpg Signage: Singer/songwriter Adam Doleac signs with Peermusic. Pictured (l-r) are the company's Michael Knox, Doleac and the company's Jenny Hall and Matt Michiels.
Megan-moroney11226.jpg Tennessee Pink: Columbia's Megan Moroney (r) with Backstage Country's Elaina Smith.
Caroline-Jones11226.jpg Omen At Work: Nashville Harbor's Caroline Jones with KWNR/Las Vegas' MoJoe Roberts.
Tracy-Lawrence11226.jpg

Honky Talkin': Tracy Lawrence with Big D & Bubba's Derek “Big D” Haskins and Sean “Bubba” Powell (l-r).

jellyroll11226.jpg iHeart Of Stone: Stoney Creek's Jelly Roll (in hat) with iHeartMedia's Jeff Kapugi, Alissa Pollack and Rob Kruz (l-r).

Top Stories

CMA CEO Trahern Retiring
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CMA CEO Sarah Trahern is retiring at the end of the year. "I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together in service of this industry and its people, and deeply grateful for the community that makes country music what it is," she says. "After much reflection, I’ve made the decision to retire and embrace this next chapter of life – one that allows me to remain connected to this industry in ways that continue to inspire me, while also creating space for the people and moments that matter most to me, including time with my husband, Wayne, getting outdoors, and simple nights at home with our dog, Riley.” 

Trahern transitioned from Great American Country (GAC), where she served as SVP/GM, to the CMA in 2014 (CAT 11/12/13). The Board of Directors has formed a search committee and retained an independent executive search firm, Buffkin Baker. Additional details regarding the search, including how and when potential candidates may be considered, will be announced in February.

Jan 14, 2026 Share
CRS To Feature Six 'New Faces'
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This year's New Faces of Country Music show at CRS '26 will feature six artists, up from the usual five. They are: Curb's Kelsey Hart, Sawgod/Columbia NY/Triple Tigers' Ella Langley, Warner/WAR's Chase Matthew, Night Train/Broken Bow's John Morgan, Riser House's Meghan Patrick and Core/Mercury's Josh Ross. Thirteen artists qualified for consideration this year, but with CRS being later than usual (March 18-20 at the Omni Nashville Hotel), some were already scheduled to perform at the CMC Rocks QLD festival in Australia or on other tours. New Faces is set for the seminar's closing night, register here.

Jan 5, 2026 Share
Nov CDM Ratings

Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for November 2025 (three-month rolling average, 8/21-11/12) compared with September and October. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Jackson, MS
(Market 125)
WUSJ New South
3.4 (6t) - 3.9 (5) - 4.8 (5)
Largest share since Nov. 2022.
WMSI iHeartMedia
3.4 (6t) - 3.4 (7) - 2.5 (8)
WHJT New South Classic Country
2.2 (10t) - 2.2 (9) - 1.0 (14t)
Dec 30, 2025 Share
November CDM Ratings
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Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for November 2025 (three-month rolling average, 8/21-11/12) compared with September and October. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Chattanooga, TN
(Market 93)

WUSY Audacy
9.8 (2) - 8.0 (3) - 9.6 (1)
WUUQ Bahakel Classic Country
2.8 (7t) - 2.9 (7t) - 3.6 (6t)
Largest share since last December.
WOGT Cumulus 
1.7 (13) - 2.5 (10t) - 2.4 (9t)

Huntsville, AL
(99)          

WDRM iHeartMedia
7.5 (1) - 6.7 (1) - 6.5 (1)
WWFF Cumulus
1.4 (11) - 1.8 (11) - 1.6 (11t)

Dec 29, 2025 Share
Recent Stories
Jan 14, 2026 Aloha: Audacy KSON/San Diego afternoon host Kimo Jensen, known as "the Smilin' Hawaiian," will retire in mid-June after more than 30 years there,... Read full story
Jan 14, 2026 Pink Pony Curb: Curb Records Dir./Midwest Promotion Samantha DePrez has been upped to Sr. Dir./Promotion. “Sam has been a constant force at Curb ... Read full story
Jan 14, 2026 Live And Hern: As announced this morning via Breaking News, CMA CEO Sarah Trahern will retire at the end of the year, saying she is “incredibly ... Read full story
Jan 14, 2026 Office Culture: Parking Management Mgr./HR Elizabeth Hagler and Concord Music Group Dir./Accounts Receivable Julie Alcaraz have joined the ACM as... Read full story
Jan 14, 2026 Speed Reeder: OM Bryan Reeder has been promoted to GM at HEH Communications' KSAM/Huntsville, TX and Classic Hits sister KHVL. He ... Read full story
Jan 14, 2026 Tour Support: Clay Walker hits the road on his 29-city Doin' What I Love Tour Jan. 23 in Tulsa. Tickets here. Additional shows will be ... Read full story
Jan 14, 2026 Love & Marriage: Premiere Networks and iHeartPodcasts will launch weekly podcast Married To The Music Feb. 13 with Nashville-based ... Read full story
Jan 14, 2026 Grace Period: The deadline for submitting to The AWM Foundation's 51st Annual Gracie Awards has been extended to Jan. 29, while the regular ... Read full story
Jan 14, 2026 ICYMI: Jelly Roll is among the artists with items included in the Julien’s MusiCares Charity Relief Auction. Bidding is open here.  Tim McGraw ... Read full story
Jan 14, 2026 Chronicle: Former Country radio programmer "Ron Ellis" Whiddon died Sept. 30 at the age of 61. His 20-year radio career included programming stints at... Read full story
Jan 13, 2026 Watch Dog: Sony Music Publishing Nashville has acquired Nashville-based independent publishing and artist development company Big Yellow Dog ... Read full story
Jan 13, 2026 Necessary Emissary: KDPM/Marshall, TX Dir./Sales & Marketing Seth Necessary has joined crosstown Hanszen KMHT/Marshall as an ... Read full story
Jan 13, 2026 Calling Card: Songwriter Rob Williford ("Beautiful Crazy"), studio manager/engineer Spencer Coats of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL and ... Read full story
Jan 13, 2026 Festive All: Kane Brown, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Shaboozey, Dylan Scott, Russell Dickerson, Gretchen Wilson, Chase Matthew and Lauren Alaina ... Read full story
Jan 13, 2026 Tour Support: Leo33's Jenna Paulette is adding dates to her 26-show Back In The Saddle Tour, which kicked off Jan. 9 and is currently scheduled to ... Read full story
Jan 13, 2026 TV Special: Former CMT staffers including Leslie Fram, Chris Parr, Margaret Comeaux, Jennifer Devault, Stacey Cato and Cody Alan look back on favorite... Read full story
Jan 13, 2026 Four Score: Nonprofit Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW) has added four to its Board of Directors: KKBQ/Houston APD/MD Lauren "Lo"... Read full story
Jan 13, 2026 Mercury Rising: The Radio Advertising Bureau has called for entries in its 35th annual Radio Mercury Awards, which celebrate radio creative in 18 ... Read full story
Jan 13, 2026 Bits & Pieces: BMI/Nashville has named songwriter Lee Thomas Miller as its 2026 Songwriter Ambassador in Residence. The ... Read full story
Jan 12, 2026 Set On Shuffle: With the recent retirement of the syndicated The Big Time host Whitney Allen (CAT 11/17/25), affiliate Pamal WJEN/... Read full story
Jan 12, 2026 Cassidy Departs Sweet Talk: Sr. Dir. Julianne Cassidy has departed Nashville-based Sweet Talk Publicity after nearly a decade, and is "actively ... Read full story
Jan 12, 2026 See Rock Cities: Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Jelly Roll, Brooks & Dunn, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, Hank Williams Jr., Jon Pardi, Ella ... Read full story
Jan 12, 2026 Life Note: Red Street's Alex Valentine is mourning his father Louis "Louie" Stojanovski, who passed Saturday (1/10) at the age of 91. Visitation ... Read full story
Jan 12, 2026 Chronicle: Longtime Cumulus WQXK/Youngstown, OH morning co-host Doug James died Jan. 8 at the age of 71 following a brief illness. "Doug was... Read full story

 

 

 

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The Year End Print Special

featuring: 
The Year In Music:
Morgan, Ella & More

CMA Radio Winners
Recap The Week

Label Of The Year
Big Loud Turns 10

BMG's Jon Loba:
The Interview



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The 2026 Grammy
Voter's Guide
A quick reference guide to the 2026 Grammy Nominees



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Inside This Issue: 

Exstream: What Is Mainstream Country?

You Never Forget Your First … Cousin

Survey Says: NuVoodoo Research



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