Country Aircheck Country Aircheck

Search

Search the entire Country Aircheck news archive.

Calhoun Departs WMZQ/Washington, DC
Corey-Calhoun26.jpg

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
Kristen-Gates26.jpg

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
ds8524.jpg

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

Green Wilder: BMLG Records' Riley Green with WMZQ/Washington, DC staffers. Pictured (l-r) are the label's Michelle Kammerer and Andrew Thoen, the station's Jeff Kapugi, Green and the station's Ty Bailey, Corey Calhoun and Lauren Hight.

Jul 24, 2018 Share

Wash'd Up: Former iHeartMedia WAMZ/Louisville morning host Corey Calhoun has joined the company's WMZQ/Washington as MD/evening personality, responsibilities formerly handled by JT Bosch, who left for the company's WKKT/Charlotte last year (CAT 11/22). "Corey completes the WMZQ team," RVP/Programming Jeff Kapugi says. "He brings a fresh new energy to the station and some great experience spanning multiple markets and formats." Calhoun was replaced after two years in 'AMZ mornings earlier this month by Premiere's The Bobby Bones Show (CAT 4/25). He served as APD/afternoon host prior to that, and has other stops at iHM/Waycross, GA and WLTO/Lexington, KY. Reach him here.

Jun 1, 2018 Share

Bones About It: iHeartMedia's WAMZ/Louisville adds The Bobby Bones Show in mornings May 7, succeeding the Corey & Amy show. "We are excited to have one of the top talents in the country on our airwaves," says Region Pres. Earl Jones. Current morning co-host Amy Nic shifts to afternoon drive, joining PD Jay Cruze, while APD Corey Calhoun exits Friday (4/27) and is seeking his next opportunity. Calhoun joined two years ago (CAT 4/18/16)) and his prior stops include multiple formats in Lexington, Brunswick, GA and Ithaca, NY. Reach him here. 

Apr 24, 2018 Share

Louisville Slugger: iHeartMedia WAMZ/Louisville APD/afternoon personality Corey Calhoun has joined Amy Nic in mornings, replacing Chris Randolph, who has exited after seven years and a recent contract renewal (CAT 6/22). Calhoun joined the station from Cumulus/Lexington last March after stops in Brunswick, GA and Ithaca, NY (CAT 3/25). News on his replacement in afternoons is expected soon; reach him here. The daypart is being covered by fill-in talent for now.

Apr 18, 2016 Share

Dopplenamer: Cumulus Top 40 WLTO/Lexington PD/afternoon personality Corey Calhoun has joined iHeartMedia WAMZ/Louisville as APD and for afternoons, where he fills the spot left vacant with Coyote Calhoun's retirement (CAT 7/15). The Calhouns are not related. "His energy and enthusiasm are contagious," PD Michael Jordan tells Country Aircheck. "He's a great addition to the team and will be a big help to me as the APD." Adds Calhoun, "I'm still pinching myself to make sure I'm not dreaming! To be a part of a station with such an impressive history and follow in the footsteps of a legend like Coyote is what you work for your entire career." Calhoun's prior stops include programming and on-air gigs with Hot AC WQGA & Country WYNR/Brunswick, GA and Top 40 WFIZ/Ithaca, NY. He's on the job and can be reached here.

Mar 25, 2015 Share
26CAC-web-label-contacts-button.jpg

ACMVG26-cover.png

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

CAP032026homepage.png CAPdlbutton-homepage.png


The CRS 2026 Print Special featuring: Hey-Hi, AI: Emerging Uses
Best CRS Takeaways Ever
Label Contacts
New Faces
Travis Daily: The Interview

  buzz 3 p1 031926.png

Inside This Issue: 

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