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In This Issue (8/31) 

“A lot of people talk about her work ethic. Fewer people saw how disciplined she was about protecting her personal life.”

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Radio Vision

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Take It From ME: MCA's Jordan Davis in Portland, ME. Pictured (l-r) are WPOR's Jon Shannon, Davis, the label's Annie Sandor and WTHT’s Jadd Naamani.

McGraw83126.jpg I Like It, I Glove It: Tim McGraw at Target Field in Minneapolis. Pictured (l-r) are Em.Co's Scott Siman and KEEY's Pat Knight and Gregg Swedberg.
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Stars Like Confetti: Broken Bow's Dustin Lynch, Warner/WMN's Cole Swindell, Black River's Chris Young, Curb's Rodney Atkins, Records Nashville's George Birge, Sony Music Nashville's Zach John King and Curb's Kelsey Hart help WWKA/Orlando raise money for the Ronald McDonald House of Central Florida at the station's 31st annual All Star Jam.

gavin83126.jpg The Day I Hang Out: Warner's Gavin Adcock with WHKO/Dayton’s Cindy Carusone, Nikki Montgomery, Nancy Wilson and guest Rachel Murray (l-r) at The Day I Hang it Up Tour in Newport, KY.
Carly-Pearce82826.jpg The Highwoman: Stoney Creek's Carly Pearce celebrates the release of Honest Woman with SiriusXM The Highway's Cody Alan.
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We Got Hitstory: Riser House's Mitchell Tenpenny (c) celebrates five BMI Million-Air Awards (“At The End Of A Bar,” “Truth About You,” “If The Boot Fits,” “Drunk Me" and “We Got History") with BMI's Mason Hunter and Leslie Roberts.

Cole-Goodwin82826.jpg That's The Goodwin Stuff: Big Machine's Cole Goodwin with WCOL/Columbus, OH's Dan E. Zuko (l) and WQHK/Fort Wayne, IN's Jesse Garcia.
Anna-Rae82826.jpg Signage: Singer/songwriter Anna Rae (r) celebrates her Joan Of Arc management signing with the company's Cindy Mabe.

Top Stories

MCA's Schuler Departs
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MCA VP/Audience Development Chris Schuler has resigned, effective today (9/1). "It was a tough decision to leave this fun ride with the UMGN/MCA family these last 12 years but it’s time to start the next adventure," he says. "Special thanks to [Mike] Dungan, [Mike] Harris, Royce [Risser] and Damon [Moberly] for taking a chance on a kid from Kentucky." Schuler was VP/Promotion for Capitol (Breaking News 1/6/2023) and transitioned to his current role during the company's 2025 restructuring. Prior stops include Arista, Mercury and BMI. Reach him here. No word on plans for the position at MCA.

Sep 1, 2026 Share
Johnson Named MCA VP/Streaming
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Former The Core Day-To-Day Mgr. Brittani Johnson has been named MCA VP/Streaming. She succeeds Tatiana Angulo, who joined Amazon Music in July (CAT 7/31). Johnson joined The Core from Big Loud in 2024 (CAT 9/5/24) and exited in 2025 (CAT 12/17/25). She currently serves as Chair of the CRS Agenda Committee. Reach her here.

Sep 1, 2026 Share
Loba Goes Global As BMG Closes Concord
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Pres./Frontline Recordings Jon Loba has been named Head of Global Frontline Recordings for BMG as the company completes the merger with Concord announced earlier this year (CAT 5/14/2026). Concord's Bob Valentine serves as CEO, leading a six-member executive management team. Loba serves on the 12-member Strategic Leadership Council along with Tom Becci (Global Recorded Operations), Tom Scherer (Global Catalog Recordings) and Jim Selby (Global Music Publishing). BMG's Thomas Coesfeld serves as Chairman. Global headquarters are in Nashville and European headquarters are in Berlin.

"We believe that investing in creators, music rights, and AI will allow us to unlock new opportunities for artists and writers in a rapidly evolving industry," says Coesfeld. Adds Valentine, "While our reach has expanded, the mission that brought us together remains the same: to support artists over the long term, honor the legacies we represent, and help build the next generation of enduring music and culture."

Read full releases on the completed merger and executive teams here and here.

Sep 1, 2026 Share
60th CMA Broadcast Awards Finalists
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Broadcast Awards finalists for the 60th CMA Awards are below. Winners will be honored Nov. 18 preceding the live ABC telecast.

Broadcast Personality

Weekly National

  • American Country Countdown with Ryan Fox – Westwood One/Cumulus
  • The Country Top 40 with Fitz, Cory “Fitz” Fitzner – Hubbard
  • Crook & Chase Countdown, Lorianne Crook, Charlie Chase – Jim Owens Entertainment
  • The Highway Hot 30 Countdown with Buzz Brainard – SiriusXM
  • Steve Harmon Show  – Westwood One/Cumulus

Daily National

  • The Angie Ward Show – iHeartMedia
  • Backstage Country with Elaina Smith – Key Networks
  • Big D & Bubba, Derek “Big D” Haskins, Sean “Bubba” Powell, Carsen Humphreville, Jonathan Shaffer, Garrett Freche – Silverfish Media
  • The Bobby Bones Show, Bobby Bones, Amy Brown, “Lunchbox” Dan Chappell, Eddie Garcia, Morgan Huelsman, “Scuba Steve” Spradlin, “Mike D” Rodriguez, “Raymundo” Ray Slater, and “Phone Screener Abby” Anderson – Premiere /iHeartMedia
  • Katie & Company, Katie Neal – Audacy

Major Market

  • The Andie Summers Show, Andie Summers, Jeff Kurkjian, Donnie Black, Shannon Boyle – WXTU/Philadelphia
  • Hawkeye and Michelle, Hawkeye Mark Louis Rybczyk, Michelle Rodriguez – KSCS/Dallas
  • The Lo Show, Lauren Lo Sessions – KKBQ/Houston
  • Michael J & Candace in the Morning, Michael J Stuehler, Candace Dold – WPOC/Baltimore
  • The Scotty Kay Show – WUSN/Chicago

Large Market

  • Deb & Matt in the Morning; Deborah Honeycutt, Matt Malone – WFMS/Indianapolis
  • Eagle Mornings with Steve & Karen, Steve Waters, Karen West – WGH/Norfolk
  • Heather Froglear – KFRG/Riverside
  • The Jesse & Anna Show, Jesse Tack, Anna Marie, Jake Thomson – WUBE/Cincinnati
  • Scott and Shannen, Scott Dolphin, Shannen O Oesterreich – WMIL/Milwaukee

Medium Market

  • Clay and Company, Clay Moden, Rob Banks – WYRK/Buffalo
  • The Doc Show with Chewy; Ken “Doc” Medek, Sean “Chewy” Medek – WGGY/Wilkes Barre
  • Joey & Nancy; Joey Tack, Nancy Barger, Karly Duggan – WIVK/Knoxville
  • Julie and DJ in the Morning, Julie K Kansy, DJ Thee Trucker Dale Sellers – WPCV/Lakeland.
  • Steve & Gina in the Morning, Steve Lundy, Gina Melton – KXKT/Omaha

Small Market

  • The Cat Pak Morning Show with Brent and Friends, Brent Lane, Jordan Glass – WYCT/Pensacola, FL
  • Hilley & Hart, Kevin Hilley, Erin Hart – KATI/Columbia, MO
  • Kicks Wake Up Krew, Dub Bryan Axelson, Cody Blaine Jackson – WKXC/Augusta, GA
  • Liz & Scotty in the Morning, Liz Del Grosso, Scotty Cox – KCLR/Columbia, MO
  • Officer Don and DeAnn, Officer Don Evans, DeAnn Stephens – WBUL/Lexington

Radio Station

Major Market

  • KSCS/Dallas
  • KSON/San Diego
  • KYGO/Denver
  • WMZQ/Washington, DC
  • WPOC/Baltimore

Large Market

  • KFRG/Riverside
  • WCTK/Providence
  • WDSY/Pittsburgh
  • WMIL/Milwaukee
  • WQDR/Raleigh

Medium Market

  • KXKT/Omaha
  • WHKO/Dayton
  • WLFP/Memphis
  • WQMX/Akron
  • WUSY/Chattanooga

Small Market

  • KCLR/Columbia, MO
  • WCOW/La Crosse, WI
  • WKML/Fayetteville, NC
  • WKXC/Augusta, GA
  • WYCT/Pensacola, FL
Sep 1, 2026 Share
July CDM Ratings
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Rate Against The Machine: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for July 2026 (three-month rolling average, 4/30-7/22) compared with May and June. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Colorado Springs, CO
(Market 91)

KCCY iHeartMedia
4.4 (4) - 3.6 (5) - 3.1 (6)
KATC Cumulus
Does not subscribe.

Des Moines, IA
(70)      

KHKI Cumulus
KJJY Cumulus Classic Country
Do not subscribe.

Mobile, AL
(100) 
WKSJ iHeartMedia
7.3 (1) - 7.7 (1) - 5.6 (1t)
Spokane, WA
(90)
KICR Blue Sky
2.7 (6) - 2.8 (8t) - 2.4 (8)
KISC-HD2 iHeartMedia
1.3 (9t) - 1.1 (12) - 0.4 (15)
KDRK Stephens
KXLY QueenB
Do not subscribe.
Wichita, KS
(104)
  

KZSN iHeartMedia
5.7 (1) - 5.4 (4) - 5.5 (3)
KFDI SummitMedia
4.5 (8t) - 4.7 (6t) - 4.3 (7)
KVWF Murfin
1.7 (15) - 1.7 (15) - 1.9 (15)

Aug 31, 2026 Share
July CDM Ratings
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Kissin' Half Dozen: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for July 2026 (three-month rolling average, 4/30-7/22) compared with May and June. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Columbia, SC
(Market 89)

WCOS iHeartMedia
5.9 (2) - 4.7 (3) - 4.1 (3)

Little Rock, AR
(94)   
KSSN iHeartMedia
5.0 (3) - 5.4 (2) - 6.0 (2)
KMJX
 iHeartMedia Cl. Country
5.7 (2) - 4.5 (4) - 3.9 (4)
Springfield, MA
(102)
WRNX iHeartMedia 
4.6 (5) - 4.5 (4t) - 4.4 (6)
Toledo, OH
(108) 
WCKY iHeartMedia Classic Country
1.2 (7) - 1.0 (7) - 0.7 (8)
WKKO Cumulus
Does not subscribe.
Aug 28, 2026 Share
Recent Stories
Aug 31, 2026 Bones Density: iHeartMedia WDXB/Birmingham & WDRM/Huntsville, AL have added The Bobby Bones Show following Spencer Graves' departure during ... Read full story
Aug 31, 2026 KYGO's Jones Departs: Bonneville/Denver Digital Content Specialist and KYGO weekend air personality & staff photographer Brailey Jones has ... Read full story
Aug 31, 2026 Fire And Bernstone: NZME iHeartCountry/New Zealand MD Dan Bernstone has added the 6am to noon airshift, becoming the first personality on the 16-month... Read full story
Aug 31, 2026 I Hope You Chance: Good Morning America’s Lara Spencer will reveal nominees in select categories for the 60th Annual CMA Awards Sept. 10, ... Read full story
Aug 31, 2026 Festive All: DollyFest, an unannounced event planned for Parton's 80th birthday, is being reimagined as a multi-city festival in Nashville and London ... Read full story
Aug 31, 2026 Bits & Pieces: In honor of Dolly Parton, Audacy KSON/San Diego MD/morning show Exec. Producer Jessica Chenoweth teamed up with 10th ... Read full story
Aug 28, 2026 Alexanders The Greats: WOKK/Meridian, MS morning host Quinn Alexander will move to mornings at WUSJ/Jackson, MS Sept. 1, where he ... Read full story
Aug 28, 2026 Gig Alert: Dick Broadcasting is seeking a PD for WUBB/Savannah, GA to succeed Nathan James, who is moving to Super Hi-Fi as Mgr./... Read full story
Aug 28, 2026 No Regular Joe: Tucker Wetmore, Sierra Hull and Marcus King will be among the performers, and Kix Brooks and Keith Urban among the speakers at the CMA... Read full story
Aug 28, 2026 If This Is Austin: Connoisseur is selling four Minnesota stations serving Austin and Albert Lea, including Country KAUS-FM, to Hometown ... Read full story
Aug 28, 2026 Festive All: Lainey Wilson, Rascal Flatts, Dierks Bentley, Chris Stapleton and Miranda Lambert will headline the Oct. 2-3 Country Calling ... Read full story
Aug 28, 2026 Bits & Pieces: Queen B WGLR/Platteville, WI will pay tribute to the late Dolly Parton 7am-noon CT Aug. 30 during its Classic Country show The... Read full story

  

 

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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

 

 

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