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In This Issue (10/19) 

"Nashville is full of really, really wonderful people."

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Radio Vision

zbb102226.jpg Boulder Weather: Zac Brown Band's Zac Brown (c) with iHeart's Rod Phillips (l) and management's David Plyler at Red Rocks.
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Ahead Of The Curb: Mike Curb is presented Record Research's inaugural Joel Whitburn Chart Champion Award. Pictured (l-r) are RR's Karin Freda and Vinnie Freda, Curb and wife Linda.

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All That Quitters Is Gold: Atlantic Outpost's Cameron Whitcomb is surprised with gold plaques for "Quitter" and "Medusa" in Los Angeles. Pictured (l-r) are Atlantic's Michael Hirschhorn and Laurel Cass, Atlantic Outpost's Lucy Bartozzi, The Core's Tim Gonzalez-Crane, Atlantic's Drew Maniscalco and Tony Talamo, Atlantic Outpost's JJ Jones, Atlantic's Adam Grossman, Whitcomb, The Core's Kevin "Chief" Zaruck and Simon Tikhman, Atlantic Outpost/Atlantic's Ian Cripps, The Core's Dan Dymtrow and Atlantic Outpost/Atlantic's Jeff Levin. 

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Mile High Horse: Lost Highway's Kacey Musgraves (in cowboy hat) with guest Mark, KYGO's Brian Michel, guest Dave, iHeart/Rockies' JoJo Turnbeaugh, KYGO's Katie Reid and Shawn Patrick, guest Shannon and Lost Highway's Megan McCaffrey (l-r) in Denver.

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Chairitable: Outgoing St. Jude Country Cares Label Advisory Board co-chairs Chris Schuler and Lauren "LT" Thomas (front, c) are recognized during Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Seminar in Memphis.

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Seein' Reds: Broken Bow's Dustin Lynch at Vina Robles Amphitheater in Paso Robles, CA. Pictured (l-r) are the label's Layna Bunt, KSNI/Santa Maria, CA's Jay Turner, Lynch and KUZZ/Bakersfield's Brent Michaels.

Brent-Rupard102126.jpg Signage: Singer/songwriter Brent Rupard signs with Creative Nation and Empire. Pictured (back, l-r) are CN's Abby Holcomb, Luke Laird, Beth Laird and Cole Brown; (front, l-r) Empire's Jack Johns and Eric Hurt, Rupard and CN's Emily Furman and Alex Albanese Graham.
zachtop102026.jpg Good Times & Hat Lines: Leo33's Zach Top (l) and WITL/Lansing, MI’s Jonathan “JR” Ruppel.
Lauren-Alaina102026.jpg The Ex Factor: Big Loud's Lauren Alaina (c) celebrates No. 1 "All My Exes" with KSSN's Jess Jennings and the label's John D'Amico in Little Rock.
CMHoF101926.jpg Hall In My Head: Paul Overstreet, Ralph Stanley II, Lisa Stanley Marshall, Jeanie Stanley Allinder and Tim McGraw (l-r) at the induction of the 2026 Country Music Hall of Fame class last night (10/18).
Brantley-Gilbert101926.jpg Fox & Friend: Wheelhouse's Brantley Gilbert (l) with WKKO's Bill Fox in Toledo.
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Meet & Greek: Columbia's Kameron Marlowe at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. Pictured (l-r) are B-Dub Radio's Bryan "B-Dub" Washington, KKGO's Adam Bookbinder, Marlowe, KUZZ/Bakersfield's Ness Heraldez and Brent Michaels and the label's Larry Santiago.

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From The Gulf Up: Dan + Shay's Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney (front, l-r) with WGNE/Jacksonville's Brian Jordan, WQYK's J.R. Jaus, WQIK/Jacksonville's Scot "Froggy" Langley, the label's Lou Ramirez, WWKA/Orlando's Melissa Quinones and WQYK's Launa Stringfield (back, l-r) in Tampa.

Top Stories

Chronicle: John Anderson
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Country Music Hall of Famer John Anderson died in his sleep today (10/21) at the age of 71 following a nearly five decade career, according to a social media post from his family. The Apopka, FL native signed his first record deal with Warner Bros, in 1976 and, later, BNA, scoring hits including "Swingin'," "Straight Tequila Night." "Money In The Bank" and "Seminole Wind." In 1983, he won both the CMA Horizon Award and Single of the Year honor for “Swingin’.” In 1993, Anderson was honored with the ACM Career Achievement Award. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Country Music Hall of Fame a decade later. Read his full Hall of Fame bio here. No word on services.

Oct 21, 2026 Share
WTDY/Philadelphia Goes Country
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Audacy flipped Hot AC WTDY/Philadelphia to Country today (10/19) as "US 96.5." After playing Green Day's "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)," the first country songs were Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen's "I Had Some Help," Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas," Florida Georgia Line's "Round Here" and Parmalee's "Cowgirl." The station is commercial-free until Oct. 24 and begins its weekday programming Oct. 26 with a lineup that includes Katie and Company in middays, Coop in afternoons, Rob and Holly in evenings and Mo and Styckman in overnights. A morning show announcement is forthcoming, and new call letters WCUS have been applied for. Listen here.

"Country music has a special way of connecting people, and we are excited to bring a brand-new destination to this important market,” says Audacy Country Format VP Tim Roberts. “Adding US 96.5 in Philadelphia expands our footprint and brings even more world-class entertainment to our listeners – it’s a terrific addition to Audacy’s strong station lineup in the city.”

The station joins Beasley's Country WXTU in the market, which has a 4.7 share 6+ and a cume of 455,100 in the September Nielsen Audio PPM ratings.

Oct 19, 2026 Share
September CDM Ratings
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Killer B: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for September 2026 (three-month rolling average, 6/25-9/16) compared with July and August. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Akron, OH  
(Market 96) 

WQMX Rubber City 
6.1 (2) - 5.9 (3) - 6.3 (2)

Charleston, SC
(76)   
WEZL iHeartMedia
5.2 (2) - 6.0 (2) - 5.8 (2)
WCKN Saga
3.6 (5) - 4.0 (5) - 3.8 (4)
Monterey, CA
(98) 

KTOM iHeartMedia
4.4 (3) - 3.8 (3t) - 3.6 (3)

Syracuse, NY
(101)
WBBS iHeartMedia
9.6 (1) - 9.6 (1) - 10.8 (1)
Largest share since Fall 2018.
WOLF FoxFur
3.1 (7) - 3.4 (6) - 3.4 (7t)
Oct 22, 2026 Share
September CDM Ratings
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Bob's 'Burgers: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for September 2026 (three-month rolling average, 6/25-9/16) compared with July and August. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Albuquerque, NM (Market 72) 

KBQI iHeartMedia
4.7 (4) - 4.2 (4t) - 3.9 (6t)
KBQI-HD2 iHeartMedia Cl. Ctry.
2.8 (10) - 2.6 (11) - 2.1 (12t)
KRST Cumulus
Does not subscribe.

El Paso, TX
(77)

KHEY iHeartMedia
5.8 (5t) - 5.7 (5t) - 5.9 (6)
Largest share since Aug. 2025.

Harrisburg, PA
(87)
WRBT iHeartMedia
3.4 (4) - 4.1 (3) - 5.0 (3)
Largest share since Oct. 2024.
Oct 21, 2026 Share
September CDM Ratings
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Bakers Spiel: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for September 2026 (three-month rolling average, 6/25-9/16) compared with July and August. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Bakersfield, CA
(Market 83)  
KUZZ Owens
6.6 (3) - 7.0 (3) - 8.6 (2)
Largest share since February.
KRJK Owens
0.5 (24) - 1.0 (17t) - 1.7 (12t)
Largest share since Jan. 2025.
KCWR Owens Classic Country
1.3 (15) - 1.5 (13t) - 1.4 (15)
Knoxville, TN
(71)
WCYQ SummitMedia
4.8 (4t) - 4.4 (4) - 3.1 (7)
WDKW Midwest Classic Country
1.5 (10t) - 1.9 (10) - 2.1 (10)
WIVK Cumulus
Does not subscribe.
Omaha, NE
(74) 
KXKT iHeartMedia 
9.8 (1) - 8.6 (2) - 8.7 (1)
KOPW
Usher Media
N/A - 5.5 (3) - 3.5 (7t)
Switched from Hip Hop to Country during the final week of the August survey (CAT 8/13).
KFFF iHeartMedia Classic Country
2.3 (15) - 2.8 (13t) - 3.3 (10)
Tulsa, OK
(63) 
KXBL Griffin
4.9 (5) - 5.7 (1t) - 5.2 (4t)
KVOO 
Griffin Classic Country 
5.3 (2) - 5.6 (3t) - 5.4 (3)
KTGX iHeartMedia
2.7 (10) - 2.2 (10t) - 1.8 (11)
KWEN Zoellner
Does not subscribe.
Oct 20, 2026 Share
Recent Stories
Oct 22, 2026 Give Heaven Some Hale: Seven Mountains/Parkersburg, WV MM Lance Ballance is stepping down and moving to Florida to be closer to family. Effective... Read full story
Oct 22, 2026 Johnny Cash-Only: Broadway and Friends is ending its partnership with United Stations Radio Networks at the end of the year, and will be offering... Read full story
Oct 22, 2026 Festive All: Lauren Alaina, Rhett Akins, Clayton Bellamy, Ana Cristina Cash, Mae Estes, Cody Lohden and more have been added to ... Read full story
Oct 22, 2026 Special Delivery: LoCash will host Fisher House's two-hour, Sharla McCoy-produced annual Veterans Day (11/11) radio special, The Gift. Available to ... Read full story
Oct 22, 2026 ICYMI: Following last night’s CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton, the CMA, Belmont University, The Walt ... Read full story
Oct 22, 2026 Chronicle: “John Anderson was a one-of-a-kind song stylist who proved that fresh innovations were best born from time-honored traditions," says ... Read full story
Oct 21, 2026 I Am Legend: WIVK/Knoxville was named Legendary Station of the Year at last night's (10/20) NAB Marconi Radio Awards in New York. KKBQ/Houston ... Read full story
Oct 21, 2026 Peak: Bonneville/Denver GSM Nathan Gilbert has been promoted to DOS for the four-station cluster that includes Country KYGO. He succeeds Geoff ... Read full story
Oct 21, 2026 Tour Support: Garth Brooks added a third show in Kansas City (11/7) and Seattle (11/15). Ticket info here. Read full story
Oct 21, 2026 Wedding Bell: Triple Tigers artist Shane Profitt wed Chloe Crawford Oct. 16 in Nashville. The couple got engaged last year. Read full story
Oct 19, 2026 Brotherly Love: Audacy launched its 24th Country station today (10/19) when it flipped WTDY/Philadelphia from Hot AC to Country as "US 96.5,... Read full story
Oct 19, 2026 Gig Alert: Montana Radio Co. Classic Country KBLL/Helena, MT is seeking a morning team with strong social skills; news experience is a plus. "We ... Read full story
Oct 19, 2026 Special Delivery: Luke Bryan, Lauren Alaina, Brothers Osborne, Dustin Lynch, Ella Langley, Dan + Shay and more will share Thanksgiving ... Read full story
Oct 19, 2026 Engage Meant: WQDR/Raleigh APD/MD/midday host Abby Leigh got engaged to Kevin Hansen in the great Smoky Mountains. The couple is planning to wed ... Read full story
Oct 19, 2026 Life Note: Press On Publicity's Wes Vause is mourning the passing of his father, Bobby Charles Vause, who died Oct. 14 at the age of 92. The ... Read full story
Oct 19, 2026 Chronicle: Longtime Country radio PD Jim Tice died Oct. 15 at the age of 80. Tice served as PD of WZZK/Birmingham, AL from 1984-1999 and was ... Read full story
Oct 19, 2026 Service Update: Services for veteran TV and radio entertainment reporter Jimmy Carter have been set following his Oct. 13 death at the age of 73 (... Read full story

 



 

 

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



  

 

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The Fall 2026 Print Special featuring: 

Country Aircheck Turns 20!

Power 31: Then & Now

The Interview & More



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Inside This Issue: 

MC-Yay At Ryman Lunch
Disruption Junction
You Look Like You Love Me
The Day Ahead

 

 

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