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In This Issue (5/27) 

“Mike and I have been looking at format options, and we’ve had our eye on Country.”

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Radio Vision

slide 1 of 6
kane-krewe_052725.jpg Krewe Neck: RCA's Kane Brown (and Krewe) with WWWF/Nassau-Suffolk’s Kelly Ford, Alexa Neo and Patrick Shea (l-r).
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No. One Bad Habit: Big Machine's Tim McGraw celebrates No. 1 "One Bad Habit." Pictured (front, l-r) are songwriter Marc Beeson, producer Byron Gallimore, McGraw and songwriters Aaron Eshuis and Tony Lane; (back, l-r) the label's Scott Borchetta and ASCAP's Evyn Mustoe.

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On The Rocks: EMI Nashville's Brad Paisley makes his Red Rocks debut opening weekend of his Truck Still Works World Tour. Pictured (l-r) are Live Nation's Patrick McDill, Paisley, KrisCar Management's Kendal Marcy, WME's Nate Towne and Live Nation's Brian Edelman.

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Lunch Ladies: Source Nashville celebrates its 2025 Hall of Fame inductees (Pam Russell, Lori Badgett, Gina Keltner, Cheryl Harris, Mary Self and Kay West, l-r) at its bi-monthly luncheon. 

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The Pitt: Galaxy's LoCash play WDSY/Pittsburgh's Y108 8 Man Jam. Pictured (l-r) are the label's John Lessard, the duo's Chris Lucas, the station's Mark Anderson, the label's Cheryl Broz and the duo's Preston Brust.

 

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Boys Plaque Home: Curb's Dylan Scott celebrates the platinum certification of Livin’ My Best Life (Still), "What He’ll Never Have,” “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” “Can’t Have Mine" and “Nobody" and the gold certification of “Good Times Go By Too Fast,” “New Truck,” “Boys Back Home” and “Nothing To Do Town" with his team. 
 

kane-krewe_052725.jpg Krewe Neck: RCA's Kane Brown (and Krewe) with WWWF/Nassau-Suffolk’s Kelly Ford, Alexa Neo and Patrick Shea (l-r).

Top Stories

Chronicle: Mark McKay
Mark-McKay.jpg Chronicle: Industry veteran Mark "McKay" Cunningham died May 25 at the age of 55 following a battle with leukemia. Best known for his nearly 20 years with WGH-FM/Norfolk, McKay moved to the label side later in his career, serving as Dir./Southeast Regional Promotion at Riser House from 2019-2020. The Philadelphia native joined WGH in 1999 and was upped from APD/MD to PD in 2012 (CAT 7/2/12). He also did afternoons and mornings at various times during his tenure. In addition to WGH, McKay programmed sister Sports WVSP. This was his second bout with cancer, following his initial diagnosis in 2015 (CAT 10/23/15). His Facebook page is filling up with tributes from industry colleagues and friends. No word on services.
May 25, 2025 Share
April 2025 PPM Ratings:

April 2025 PPM Ratings: Day four of Nielsen Audio's April 2025 (4/3-4/30) PPM ratings are below. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. All graphs indicate Average Share Mon-Sun 6am-Midnight Persons 6+.

Austin (Market 27)
KASE iHeartMedia
5.2 (5) to 4.3 (7)
Cume: +27,700 to 231,700


KVET iHeartMedia 
3.1 (13) to 4.2 (8) 
Cume: +34,700 to 266,500
Largest cume since Oct. 2023.


KKMJ-HD3 Audacy Classic Country 
2.0 (18) to 1.6 (20) 
Cume: +300 to 41,200
Flipped to Classic Country two days into the June 2024 survey (CAT 5/24).

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Raleigh (35)
WQDR Curtis
6.0 (7) to 6.0 (6t)

Cume: -12,600 to 224,600

WNCB iHeartMedia
3.5 (12) to 3.8 (10t)
Cume: +24,300 to 159,400

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Indianapolis (38)
WFMS Cumulus
5.2 (7) to 4.8 (9t)
Cume: -19,300 to 202,700

WLHK Radio One
4.2 (12) to 4.8 (9t)
Cume: -4,700 to 200,000

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Nashville (39)
WSIX iHeartMedia
5.3 (8t) to 5.3 (7t)
Cume: +400 to 205,100

WSM-FM Cumulus
3.3 (13) to 3.4 (13)
Cume: +14,600 to 151,600

WKDF Cumulus
2.7 (14) to 3.1 (14)
Cume: +11,500 to 149,600

WNFN Midwest Classic Country
2.1 (17) to 1.6 (18)
Cume: +1,600 to 79,900

Ryman Hospitality Classic Country WSM-AM had a 0.3 (24t) and cume of 13,700. 

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Jacksonville (43)
WQIK iHeartMedia
6.7 (4) to 6.2 (5t) 
Cume: +9,900 to 211,600

WGNE Renda
4.7 (9) to 5.3 (8)
Largest share since Aug. 2023.
Cume: +1,200 to 180,700

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Milwaukee (44)
WMIL iHeartMedia
6.0 (3) to 5.7 (4)
Cume: -7,800 to 268,700

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Providence (45)
WCTK Hall
9.4 (1) to 10.2 (1) Largest share in the format this month.
Largest share since Jan. 2022; largest share for any PPM Country station since May 2024.
Cume: +29,800 to 
277,700

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Norfolk (46)
WUSH Sinclair
4.1 (9) to 4.9 (6t)
Cume: +19,400 to 144,200
Largest cume since May 2023.

WGH Max
3.3 (12) to 3.5 (9t)
Cume: +2,500 to 142,500

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Greensboro (47)
WPAW Audacy
3.8 (8) to 4.9 (6)
Cume: +22,100 to 177,800
Largest cume since June 2023.

WTQR iHeartMedia
3.1 (9t) to 3.3 (7)
Cume: +14,800 to 169,800

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West Palm Beach (49) 
WIRK Hubbard
5.4 (4) to 4.9 (4t)
Cume: -20,900 to 94,900

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Memphis (55)
WLFP Audacy
3.7 (7) to 3.2 (7t)
Cume: +16,600 to 142,600
Largest cume since Nov. 2023.

WGKX Cumulus
Does not subscribe.

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Hartford (56)
WWYZ iHeartMedia
5.9 (5t) to 7.5 (3) 
Cume: +14,900 to 166,900

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May 22, 2025 Share
Townsquare's Montgomery To Retire
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Townsquare Country Format Lead Doug Montgomery will retire July 31 after eight years with the company. "I have been extremely blessed to spend my whole adult life getting to do what I dreamed of as a kid: Be the guy who picks the songs on the radio and entertains listeners every day," he says. "From my first overnight shift at WJPD in Ishpeming, Michigan, I knew Country radio was the avenue I wanted to pursue."

Prior to Townsquare, Montgomery spent 20 years with Clear Channel/iHeartMedia as PD for WBCT/Grand Rapids. "We’ve been very fortunate to have him lead our Country team for eight years," says SVP/Content & Programming Kurt Johnson. "His impact in building Townsquare Country’s success will leave a legacy."

Reach Montgomery here. The search is on for his successor here.

May 15, 2025 Share
March CDM Ratings
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The Rate Show: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for March 2025 (three-month rolling average, 1/9-4/2) compared with January and February. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Chattanooga, TN
(Market 95)

WUSY Audacy
10.4 (1) - 10.0 (1) - 10.3 (1)
WUUQ Bahakel Classic Country
3.5 (6) - 3.5 (7) - 2.9 (8t)
WOGT Cumulus 
1.4 (14) - 1.3 (12t) - 1.8 (11)

Huntsville, AL
(100)          

WDRM iHeartMedia
8.5 (1) - 9.2 (1) - 8.5 (1)
WWFF Cumulus
1.1 (3t) - 1.6 (12t) - 1.3 (11t)

Jackson, MS
(126)
WMSI iHeartMedia
3.1 (8) - 3.1 (8) - 3.8 (6t)
WUSJ 
New South
3.5 (6) - 3.6 (7) - 3.1 (8)
WHJT New South Classic Country
2.4 (9t) - 1.6 (10t) - 1.9 (10)
Madison, WI
(90)    
WMAD iHeartMedia
3.8 (7t) - 3.6 (8) - 4.2 (4)
WWQM Mid-West Family
3.2 (10t) - 2.7 (11) - 2.9 (8)
May 12, 2025 Share
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The 2025 ACM
Voter's Guide

A quick reference guide to the 2025 ACM Nominees


 
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The CRS '25 Print Special



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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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