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Delmont Returns to iHeartMedia
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In Bob We Trust: iHeartMedia has re-hired longtime former WPOC/Baltimore midday host Bob Delmont as evening host on WMZQ/Washington, DC and midday host on WPOC, effective today (8/17). Delmont left the company in a round of layoffs in June (CAT 6/25). Former WMZQ MD/evening host Corey Calhoun moved to sister WUBL/Atlanta that same month (CAT 6/16). Sister Top 40 WIHT afternooner Mike Klein added WPOC middays shortly after Delmont's departure (CAT 6/26). “Bob’s back!” says Region SVPP Jeff Kapugi. “He’s one of the best we have, and we are lucky to have him on our DC/Baltimore team!” Delmont originally joined WPOC in 1999.

Aug 17, 2026 Share
Ford Named MD At WMZQ, WPOC
Kelly-Ford26.jpg Built Ford Tough: Former Connoisseur WWWF/Nassau MD/afternoon host Kelly Ford has been named MD/afternoon host for iHeartMedia WMZQ/Washington, DC & WPOC/Baltimore, effective immediately. Ford departed WWWF last week after two years (CAT 7/15). Her prior stops include Backstage Country, WNSH/New York, KYGO/Denver and Ty, Kelly & Chuck. Former WMZQ/WPOC APD/afternoon host Ty Bailey left in April (CAT 4/8), and WMZQ MD/evening host Corey Calhoun recently moved to sister WUBL/Atlanta (CAT 6/16). Reach Ford here.
Jul 20, 2026 Share
Horn Section
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Horn Section: The newly expanded (CAT 6/16) WUBL/Atlanta team (Spencer Bynes, Mikey Wakefield, Angie Ward, Ashley Layfield, Corey Calhoun and Jill Strada, l-r).

Jun 25, 2026 Share
Layfield Adds WUBL Programming
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iHeartMedia WFUS/Tampa PD Ashley Layfield has added programming duties for WUBL/Atlanta. Additionally, WMZQ/Washington, DC MD/evening host Corey Calhoun has joined in afternoons. "Corey’s experience across multiple markets, combined with his passion for country music and audience engagement, makes him a perfect fit for afternoons on 94.9 The Bull, while Ashley is one of the most respected programming leaders in our industry," says EVP/Programming Jill Strada. Layfield took over programming at WFUS in 2022 (CAT 11/1/22). Previous stops include WWKA/Orlando. Calhoun spent eight years at WMZQ (CAT 6/5) with prior stops at WAMZ/Louisville, iHeart/Waycross, GA and WLTO/Lexington, KY.

Jun 16, 2026 Share
Layfield Adds WUBL, Calhoun Joins
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Bull Shift: As reported via Breaking News, iHeartMedia WFUS/Tampa PD Ashley Layfield has added WUBL/Atlanta to her programming purview. WUBL programming was being officially handled by EVP/Programming Jill Strada. Additionally, WMZQ/Washington, DC MD/evening host Corey Calhoun has joined in afternoons. “The station has a strong legacy with deep community roots, and I’m excited to build on that foundation, connect with the listeners and help drive the next chapter of growth and success for years to come," says Layfield, who stepped into the WFUS PD role in 2022 (CAT 11/1/22). Calhoun spent eight years at WMZQ (CAT 6/5). Reach Layfield here; Calhoun here.

Jun 16, 2026 Share
Calhoun Departs WMZQ/Washington, DC
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Corey Heart: iHeartMedia WMZQ/Washington, DC MD/evening host Corey Calhoun has departed after eight years with the station; he also tracked shifts for numerous other iHeart outlets. He will be transitioning to an as-yet-undisclosed new opportunity within the company. Calhoun shared on Facebook yesterday (6/4), "I had the time of my life ... entertaining the DMV is a special thing ... Made lifelong friends and memories. Thank you [Region SVPP] Jeff Kapugi for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity ... Excited for my next chapter coming soon." Calhoun joined WMZQ in 2018 from APD/mornings at sister WAMZ/Louisville (CAT 6/1/18), with prior stops with iHeart/Waycross, GA and WLTO/Lexington, KY. This leaves WMZQ with openings for both APD/afternoons (CAT 4/14), and Calhoun's position. Apply here.

Jun 5, 2026 Share
Hot Air: Kristen Gates
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Hot Air: No official word, but iHeartMedia WUBL/Atlanta afternoon host Kristen Gates has exited. She joined for mornings in 2008 after three years at crosstown WKHX (CAT 7/24/08), and moved to afternoons in 2022 (CAT 5/20/22). The station currently has Corey Calhoun listed for the daypart on its website.

Apr 22, 2026 Share
Cherry Blossum On Top
kelsea21925.jpg Cherry Blossum On Top: Black River's Kelsea Ballerini in Washington DC. Pictured (l-r) are WSLC/Roanoke's Brett Sharpe, the label's Theresa Ford, WKHK/Richmond’s Garret Doll, Ballerini, WQDR/Raleigh's Abby Leigh, WPOC/Baltimore's Jeff St. Pierre, WPOC/WMZQ's Jeff Kapugi and WMZQ's Corey Calhoun.
Feb 19, 2025 Share
Bryce President
bryce12925.jpg Bryce President: Mercury's Bryce Leatherwood and friends while in town to play for WMZQ/Washington, DC listeners. Pictured (l-r) are the station's Ty Bailey, Laurie Kapugi, Leatherwood, the station's Jeff Kapugi, the label's Summer Harlow and the station's Corey Calhoun.
Jan 29, 2025 Share
iheartmedialogo23.jpg iHeart Tracking: Following cutbacks across iHeartMedia over the past two weeks (CAT 8/8, 8/9, 8/12), a Country Aircheck analysis shows the following airshifts have been covered internally:
  • KAJA/San Antonio middays (previously handled by Jamie Martin) are now being covered by PD Alek Halverson
  • KTGX/Tulsa middays (Karla Cantrell): KEEY/Minneapolis' Amy James
  • KTGX afternoons (Natalie Cash): WMZQ/Washington's Corey Calhoun
  • WCOS/Columbia, SC afternoons (Andy Woods): WEZL/Charleston's Ric Rush
  • WZDA/Dayton middays (Gina Ferraro): Amy James
Aug 16, 2024 Share
Meet And Greet Virginia
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Meet And Greet Virginia: Warner/WAR’s Dan + Shay headline WMZQ Fest in Bristow, VA. Pictured (l-r) are the label's Lou Ramirez, the station's Corey Calhoun and Ty Bailey, the duo's Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney, Laurie Kapugi, the station's Jeff Kapugi and Sandbox's Lisa Ray.

Aug 5, 2024 Share
Corey-Calhoun24.jpg Down And Derby: iHeartMedia WMZQ/Washington, DC MD/evening host Corey Calhoun, who had been remotely handling nights on sister WAMZ/Louisville, moves to afternoons on that station, filling the daypart that had been handled by "Dingo" Brent Crank until his departure last week (CAT 6/20). WAMZ's night shift will now carry The Wayne & Tay Show. Calhoun has been heard on WAMZ since 2016, first locally in afternoons, then mornings, then remotely in evenings after moving to WMZQ (CAT 6/1/18). Reach him here.
Jun 25, 2024 Share
I Hope You're Happy (Birthday) Now
carly10923.jpg I Hope You're Happy (Birthday) Now: Big Machine's Carly Pearce celebrates the opening of her Country Music Made Me Do It tour and Laurie Kapugi's birthday in Washington, DC. Pictured (l-r) are WMZQ's Corey Calhoun and Jeff Kapugi, Pearce, Kapugi and the label's Brooke Diaz.
Oct 9, 2023 Share
Auto Body Experience
gabby62823.jpg Auto Body Experience: Warner/WAR's Gabby Barrett with WMZQ/Washington, DC staffers at Jiffy Lube Live. Pictured (l-r) are Corey Calhoun, Jeff Kapugi, Barrett, Ty Bailey and Michael J.
Jun 28, 2023 Share

Point Of Show Return: WMZQ Fest returns with (standing, l-r) Big Machine's Jackson Dean, the station's Jeff Kapugi and Ty Bailey, Mercury's Priscilla Block, Big Machine's Callista Clark with label rep Brooke Diaz and Mercury’s Summer Harlow; (front, l-r) the station's Michael J. and Corey Calhoun.

Jun 2, 2022 Share

Paranormal Snacktivity: WMZQ/Washington, DC's Corey Calhoun breaks into the emergency snacks with his new coworker.

Mar 25, 2020 Share

All Heart: In the wake of continuing reorganization (CAT 1/14) and layoffs (CAT 1/15) at iHeartMedia clusters nationwide, an outpouring of support from fellow industry professionals began flooding social media. Country Aircheck reached out to those offering their services and has compiled a list of contact information for those willing to help write or edit résumés, bios and programming philosophies; review and critique airchecks; produce audio or video demos; offer guidance setting up home studios or launching podcasts; and many other applicable categories of interest. 

Airchecks:

Résumés/Bios/Cover Letters:

Demo Production:

Podcasting Setup/Advice/Tutorials/Airchecks:

Miscellaneous:

  • KILT/Houston PD Chris Huff, offering assistance with ratings data for résumés
  • Sun syndicated host Sean "Coop" Tabler, offering video demo production and website help
  • KQSC-AM/Colorado Springs PD/MD Carly Evans, offering assistance with setting up home studios
  • KTGV/Tucson MD Krystal Pino, offering studio space to produce airchecks and demos
  • Mediabase Sr. Dir./Music Initiatives & Label Services Robin Rhodes, offering gratis Mediabase Services for those on the beach
  • Huskins-Harris Principal Business Mgr. Becky Harris, offering gratis business management and tax assistance
  • Music Health Alliance, offering assistance with medical insurance needs
  • Radio Disney Network Sr. Mgr./Music Programming Kris Daniels, certified therapist offering services to radio
  • Branding Expert Laura Bull, industry vet offering gratis marketing and branding advice
  • Eleven22 Event Prod. Stephanie Ramirez, industry vet offering gratis promotion and marketing advice
  • MadDog Media Relations Pres. Lenny Michael Ovadia, industry vet offering media services
  • Face For Radio Podcast's Chachi Angelo, industry vet offering opportunities to sit in on podcast to discuss your career
Jan 16, 2020 Share

Would You Luke At That? Big Machine's Carly Pearce visits WMZQ/Washington, DC radio partners before her performance on the Ride All Night Tour. Pictured (l-r) are Laurie Kapugi; the label's Brooke Diaz; Pearce; and the station's Ty Bailey, Corey Calhoun and Jeff Kapugi ... and photobomber Luke Bryan.

Sep 9, 2019 Share

To Everything, There Is A Season: With the unofficial end of summer comes the unofficial beginning of fall and the kickoff of the greatest season of them all – football season. So, too, begins the seventh annual Country Aircheck Fantasy Label Draft, complete with unexpected sleeper picks, all-star snubs, buckets of popcorn, plenty of smack talk and maybe even a few threats. This year, KUPL/Portland's MoJoe Roberts; KFRG/Riverside, CA's Heather Froglear; KRYS/Corpus Christi, TX's "Big Frank" Edwards; WGKX/Memphis' Kay Manley; WMZQ/Washington, DC's Corey Calhoun; and KWEN/Tulsa's Jenny Law step up to the challenge and pick their favorites for the 2019-2020 season. Plus, the spotlight shifts to the next Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Larry Gatlin, who walks through the seasons of his own career. All that and more in last night's (9/3) Country Aircheck Weekly.

Sep 4, 2019 Share

House Of Caw-rds: Valory's Sheryl Crow at WMZQ/Washington, DC's annual iHeartTheHolidays party. Pictured (l-r) are the station's Corey Calhoun, the label's George Briner, Crow, the station's Jeff Kapugi and the label's Don Gosselin.

Jul 19, 2019 Share

Check Republic: WMZQ/Washington, DC's Michael J., Ty Bailey and Corey Calhoun (l-r) show off the $524,734 raised during the station's St. Jude Children's Research Hospital radiothon last week. 

Dec 12, 2018 Share

Wouldn't It Be Rice? Broken Bow's Chase Rice plays WMZQ/Washington, DC's Sound Stage. Pictured (l-r) are the label's Lee Adams, the station's Corey Calhoun, Rice and the station's Jeff Kapugi.

Oct 25, 2018 Share

Java The Hutt: Captain and Bear's Cash Campbell visits WMZQ/Washington, DC before his show at Jammin Java. Pictured (l-r) are the station's Nia Marciante and Lauren Hight, Campbell and the station's Jeff Kapugi, Ty Bailey and Corey Calhoun. 

Oct 11, 2018 Share

Welcome To The Washing-Gun Show: RCA's Rachel Wammack (c) with WMZQ/Washington, DC's Michael J., Jeff Kapugi and Corey Calhoun and the label's Dan Nelson. 

Sep 18, 2018 Share

Whoops-A-Paisley: Arista's Brad Paisley with WMZQ/Washington, DC staffers. Pictured (l-r) are the station's Michael J. and Jeff Kapugi, Paisley, the station's Ty Bailey and Corey Calhoun and the label's Bubba Berry. 

Aug 27, 2018 Share

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The Summer 2026 Print Special featuring: 

Country Radio Hall
of Famers

Eric Church's Sinners @ 20

ACM Radio Winners & Carter Faith

Troy Tomlinson:
The Interview

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

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Inside This Issue: 

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