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In This Issue (2/23) 

“I’ve always been that kid in a record store and I’ve never lost focus on that.”

Click Here To Download | Archives


 

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Radio Vision

HARDY22326.jpg iHardy: Big Loud's Hardy at iHeartMedia's Nashville Summit. Pictured (l-r) are the company's Gregg Swedberg, Hardy, the label's Lauren Thomas, the company's Dusty Panhorst and the label's John D’Amico.
WFRE22326.jpg 'FRE Bird: WFRE/Frederick, MD’s Free Country Cares For St. Jude Kids raises $640,320, bringing their 20-year total to more than $10 million.
Vincent-Mason22326.jpg Cin City: MCA's Vincent Mason with iHeart/Kentucky's Rachel Elliot and WUBE's Grover Collins in Cincinnati.
Graham-Barham22326.jpg Oil Gig: Disruptor/Sony Music Nashville's Graham Barham celebrates the gold certification of "Oil Money." Pictured (l-r) are SMN's Taylor Lindsey, songwriter Beau Bailey, Barham, The PRNT Co.’s Dillon Goldberg and SMN's Ken Robold.
Ella-Langley22326.jpg Schmoozin' Texas: Sawgod/Columbia NY/Triple Tigers' Ella Langley surprises iHeartMedia staffers at Lainey Wilson's Bell Bottoms Up during the company's Nashville Summit.
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All My Flexes Live In Texas: Don Cook, Miranda Lambert, George Strait and the late Keith Gattis are inducted into the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame (CAT 8/19/25). Pictured (l-r) are Parker McCollum, Bubba Strait, Lambert, Strait, Jamey Johnson, Dean Dillon, Ashley Monroe and Penny Gattis.

Ben-Gallaher22026.jpg Outlaw & Order: Stone Country's Ben Gallaher (r) with Cumulus' Travis Daily.
Corey-Kent22026.jpg Add Hatter: Speaking of Daily, here he is with RCA's Corey Kent and Ali O'Connell.
Jordan-Davis22026.jpg Slow Dance In A Private Lot: MCA's Jordan Davis (l) with Audacy's Tim Roberts and the label's Miranda McDonald at Totally Private in Nashville.
SWJ21826.jpg "Gary" Go Round: Big Loud's Stephen Wilson Jr. at the White Oak Music Hall in Houston. Pictured (l-r) are the label's Kelley Bradshaw, KKBQ's Lauren "Lo" Sessions-Barker, Wilson and KILT's Nick Russo.

Top Stories

Fall Diary Ratings
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Sioux Per Duper: Here are select Nielsen Audio Fall 2025 (9/18-12/10) two-book per year diary ratings for subscribing stations compared with their last books (Fall 2024 and Spring 2025). Ranks (in parentheses) are also among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Bismarck, ND
(Market 229)   

KQDY iHeartMedia
5.3 (7t) - 7.0 (3t) - 7.7 (3t)
Largest share since Spring 2023.
KUSB Townsquare
5.3 (7t) - 4.0 (8t) - 3.8 (8t)
KBMR-AM
iHeartMedia Cl. Country
6.3 (5t) - 4.0 (8t) - 2.9 (10t)

Jackson, TN
(241)
WOGY Forever
7.5 (3) - 9.6 (2t) - 9.3 (3)
WWYN Thomas
3.8 (6t) - 2.7 (7t) - 2.7 (7t)
San Angelo, TX
(235)    
KKCN Townsquare
2.3 (7t) - 2.4 (8t) - 3.9 (4t)
KGKL
Townsquare
5.7 (3) - 4.8 (4) - 2.6 (6t)
KDCD
Four R
2.3 (7t) - 2.4 (8t) - N/A
Did not subscribe this survey.
Sioux City, IA
(233)
KSUX Powell
8.6 (2t) - 8.7 (2t) - 10.8 (1t)
Largest share since Fall 2021.
KKYY Powell Classic Country
4.8 (9) - 3.3 (10) - 3.6 (10)
Sioux Falls, SD
(168)
KTWB Midwest
11.9 (1) - 13.0 (1) - 13.5 (1)
Largest share since Fall 2021.
KIKN Townsquare
3.5 (10) - 3.2 (9) - 4.3 (8)
Largest share since Spring 2001.
KXRB Townsquare Cl. Country
4.4 (9) - 4.2 (7t) - 2.9 (10)
Feb 9, 2026 Share
Fall Diary Ratings
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Panama Jacked: Here are select Nielsen Audio Fall 2025 (9/18-12/10) two-book per year diary ratings for subscribing stations compared with their last books (Fall 2024 and Spring 2025). Ranks (in parentheses) are also among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Columbia, MO
(212)    

KCLR Zimmer
11.2 (1) - 9.9 (1) - 8.2 (2)
KFAL-AM Zimmer
1.7 (11) - 1.7 (12t) - 1.8 (8t)

Eau Claire, WI
(217)
WAXX Mid-West Family
12.6 (1t) - 12.7 (1) - 11.9 (1)
11th consecutive No. 1.
WQRB iHeartMedia
4.2 (7) - 4.8 (5t) - 5.6 (5t)
WATQ
iHeartMedia Classic Country
5.9 (3t) - 4.8 (5t) - 4.8 (8)
Joplin, MO
(215)
KIXQ Zimmer
11.8 (1) - 11.3 (1t) - 11.8 (1)
La Crosse, WI
(210)
WCOW Sparta-Tomah
10.3 (1) - 12.8 (1) - 12.6 (1)
WQCC Magnum
4.8 (3) - 4.0 (3) - 3.5 (7t)
Panama City, FL
(204)
WPAP iHeartMedia
8.1 (3) - 8.9 (2) - 10.7 (1)
Largest share since Fall 2020.
Parkersburg, WV
(226)
WNUS iHeartMedia
8.8 (1) - 10.4 (1) - 10.6 (1)
Largest share since Spring 2023.
Rochester, MN
(207)     
KWWK Townsquare
7.0 (2) - 7.1 (2) - 6.8 (2)
KMFX
iHeartMedia
5.4 (3t) - 4.3 (4t) - 6.0 (3)
Wheeling, WV
(230)
WOVK iHeartMedia
14.2 (1) - 13.7 (1) - 11.8 (1)
Feb 6, 2026 Share
Fall Diary Ratings
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What The Forks? Here are select Nielsen Audio Fall 2025 (9/18-12/10) two-book per year diary ratings for subscribing stations compared with their last books (Fall 2024 and Spring 2025). Ranks (in parentheses) are also among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Cedar Rapids, IA
(199)

KHAK Townsquare
10.0 (1t) - 13.0 (1) - 10.9 (1)
KKSY iHeartMedia
4.0 (8t) - 3.9 (7t) - 3.6 (9)

Duluth, MN
(202)
KDKE Midwest Classic Country
4.8 (5t) - 7.7 (2) - 4.8 (4t)
KKCB Townsquare
5.4 (4) - 4.7 (6t) - 4.8 (4t)
KTCO Midwest
4.2 (7t) - 4.1 (8t) - 3.6 (10)
Fargo, ND
(183)  
KBVB Radio Fargo-Moorhead
6.2 (4t) - 7.1 (2t) - 8.1 (3)
Largest share since Fall 2013.
KVOX Midwest
5.7 (6t) - 6.6 (4) - 5.6 (6)
Grand Forks, ND-MN
(242) 
KYCK Leighton
7.1 (3t) - 6.2 (5t) - 9.2 (1t)
First No. 1 since Fall 2015.
KSNR iHeartMedia
7.1 (3t) - 6.2 (5t) - 7.7 (5t)
Largest share since Fall 2012.
Harrisonburg, VA
(228)
WSIG Saga Classic Country
9.9 (1t) - 9.2 (1t) - 9.8 (1t)
WKCY
iHeartMedia
8.8 (3) - 9.2 (1t) - 8.5 (3)
Laredo, TX
(190)
KRRG Guerra
8.1 (3t) - 9.9 (3) - 10.5 (3)
Largest share since Spring 2020.
St. Cloud, MN
(181)     

KZPK Leighton
5.3 (2t) - 6.7 (2) - 7.9 (1)
Largest share since Spring 2014.
WWJO Townsquare
8.7 (1) - 8.0 (1) - 6.6 (2)
KDDG Starcom Classic Country
2.9 (7t) - 4.0 (5) - 4.8 (4)
Largest share to date.
WVAL-AM Tri-County Cl. Country
1.4 (13t) - 1.8 (11t) - 2.2 (12)

Waterloo, IA
(221)     
KOEL Townsquare
7.3 (2) - 7.5 (2) - 10.5 (1)
KPTY-AM NRG Classic Country
2.8 (8t) - 3.7 (7t) - 2.9 (8)
Winchester, VA
(196)  

WUSQ iHeartMedia
15.6 (1) - 13.3 (1) - 10.6 (1)
51st consecutive No. 1, dating to 2000.

Feb 5, 2026 Share
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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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