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In This Issue (7/6) 

“Other entertainment products don’t ask their clients anything. They look at how users behave and tailor their products accordingly.”

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Radio Vision

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Cavalry Call: Lost Highway's Flatland Cavalry plays Sound Space at Audacy/Detroit. Pictured (l-r) are FC's Wesley Hall and Adam Gallegos, WYCD's Tim Roberts and Holly Hutton, FC's Cleto Cordero and Reid Dillon and WYCD's Rob Stone.

Chayce-Beckham7726.jpg Sacramemento: Wheelhouse's Chayce Beckham (c) with KNCI/Sacramento's Sonia Jimenez and Chad Rufer and the label's Steve Pleshe (front).
MORGAN-WADE7726.jpg Signage: Singer/songwriter Morgan Wade (l) commemorates her Warner Records Nashville signing with the label's Cris Lacy.
ABBEY-CONE7726.jpg Signage: Singer/songwriter Abbey Cone (r) celebrates signing with Endurance Music Group with Quinton Digital's Amanda Quinton and EMG's Michael Martin and Courtney Kruckeberg (l-r).
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Signage: Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville and One4 Records sign singer/songwriter Hunter Flynn to their new joint publishing venture, One4 Music. Pictured (l-r) are UMPGN's Troy Tomlinson, Flynn and One4's Brian Wright and Katherine Godwin.

Dallas-Wilson7726.jpg Signage: Songwriter/producer Dallas Wilson signs with Warner Chappell Music Nashville in partnership with The Core Entertainment. Pictured (l-r) are attorney Rush Hicks, WCM's Bryce Gravitt, The Core's Chief Zaruk, Wilson, The Core's Simon Tikhman and Jamie Sudhalter and WCM's Austen Adams.
Cole-Goodwin7626.jpg Goodwin Hunting: Big Machine's Cole Goodwin (c) with KSCS/Dallas' Al Farb (l) and Mike Preston.
Gavin-Adcock7626.jpg Paw Revere: Warner's Gavin Adcock with the Cat Country (WYCT/Pensacola) team at The Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach, AL. Pictured (l-r) are the station's Abigail Timmons, Jordan Glass and Morgan Sasser, Adcock and the station's Brent Lane.
Ben-Gallaher7626.jpg The Ben 98: Stone Country's Ben Gallaher (r) with WSIX/Nashville's Ryan McKiddy.
COMBUSTION-MUSIC7626.jpg Hate At First Sight: The Combustion Music team celebrates Josh Ross’ “Hate How You Look," the inaugural No. 1 for its four writers. Pictured (front, l-r) the company's Keithan Melton and co-writers Jessica Farren, Christian Yancey, Chris McKenna, Chris Sainato; (back, l-r) the company's Chris Farren, Kelly Lyons and Chris “Falcon” Van Belkom.

Top Stories

Triple Tigers' Herring Steps Back
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Triple Tigers Records Co-President Kevin Herring has stepped down and will henceforth serve as a strategic advisor focusing on A&R and label strategy. "This is the first step toward retirement for me," Herring says. "I'm grateful for the chance to step back and play a support role that allows me more control of my own schedule, including more time with my wife and grandson, while still coaching staff and fostering artists' careers with Triple Tigers."

Founding Partner George Couri adds, "This label has the best batting average of achieving radio No. 1s in country music history. That is because of the team that Kevin put together and led. We are so grateful he's agreed to stay on in this new capacity." Herring was named Co-President alongside Annie Ortmeier in 2023 (Breaking News 9/13/2023), having joined the label as SVP/Promotion in 2017. Prior stops include Warner, Lyric Street and Mercury. His career started in radio at WWWW/Detroit. Reach him here. 

Jul 6, 2026 Share
Triple Tigers' Braun Named Co-President
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Triple Tigers VP/Radio Promotion Raffaella Braun has been named Co-President alongside Annie Ortmeier. The news follows yesterday's announcement of Kevin Herring stepping into an advisory role. "I’ve seen her lead teams, solve problems and think far beyond radio promotion, figuring out ways to connect an artist with a larger audience," says Founder/Managing Partner George Couri, to whom Braun reports. Adds Braun, "I’m beyond honored for the opportunity to step into this role and continue working with the exceptional team for the good of our incredible artists and their unbounded art." Braun joined the label in 2019 (CAT 10/1/19) after eight years with Warner Music Nashville, and rose to her most recent position in 2023 (CAT 10/11/23). Reach her here.

Jul 7, 2026 Share
May CDM Ratings
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Blue Rate Special: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for May 2026 (three-month rolling average, 3/5-5/27) compared with March and April. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Columbia, SC
(Market 89)

WCOS iHeartMedia
6.7 (2) - 6.2 (2) - 5.9 (2)

Des Moines, IA
(70)     
KHKI Cumulus
KJJY Cumulus Classic Country
Do not subscribe.
Little Rock, AR
(94)   
KMJX iHeartMedia Cl. Country
5.2 (3) - 5.8 (2) - 5.7 (2)
KSSN iHeartMedia
5.9 (2) - 4.7 (3) - 5.0 (3)
Monterey, CA
(98) 
KTOM iHeartMedia
2.9 (7) - 2.4 (7) - 3.3 (4)
Spokane, WA
(90) 
KICR Blue Sky
3.0 (9t) - 3.1 (9) - 2.7 (6)
KISC-HD2 iHeartMedia
0.9 (16t) - 1.3 (14t) - 1.3 (9t)
KDRK Stephens
4.5 (6) - 4.9 (5t) - N/A
Did not subscribe this survey.
KXLY QueenB
Does not subscribe.
Springfield, MA
(102)
WRNX iHeartMedia 
5.0 (4t) - 4.6 (5t) - 4.6 (5)
Jul 7, 2026 Share
May CDM Ratings
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Goodyear Good Year: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for May 2026 (three-month rolling average, 3/5-5/27) compared with March and April. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Akron, OH  
(Market 96) 

WQMX Rubber City 
6.0 (1) - 6.8 (1t) - 7.3 (1)
Largest share since Nov. 2024.

Bakersfield, CA
(83)  
KUZZ Owens
8.5 (1) - 7.0 (2) - 7.1 (3)
KCWR Owens Classic Country
1.3 (19t) - 1.7 (16) - 1.4 (16t)
KRJK 
Owens
0.9 (22t) - 0.9 (20t) - 0.5 (20t)
Charleston, SC
(76)   
WCKN Saga
4.4 (4) - 3.8 (4t) - 4.0 (3)
WEZL 
iHeartMedia
4.9 (2) - 4.5 (2) - 3.8 (4)
Harrisburg, PA
(87)

WRBT iHeartMedia
3.8 (4) - 3.9 (4) - 3.6 (4)

Omaha, NE
(74) 
KXKT iHeartMedia 
9.5 (1) - 9.5 (1) - 8.7 (1)
KFFF iHeartMedia Classic Country
2.3 (16) - 2.9 (13) - 3.3 (9)
Largest share since May 2025.
Jul 6, 2026 Share
Recent Stories
Jul 7, 2026 Tedesco Trucks: Warner Records Nashville VP/Marketing Clark Mims Tedesco has joined Morris Higham Management in the same capacity. Tedesco ... Read full story
Jul 7, 2026 Tiger Stripes: “I’m beyond honored for the opportunity to step into this role and continue working with the exceptional team for the good of our ... Read full story
Jul 7, 2026 A Lon Time Coming: Country Countdown USA host and Country Aircheck Publisher/CEO Lon Helton will receive the 2026 CRB President’s Award... Read full story
Jul 7, 2026 Tour Support: Garth Brooks' Blame It All On My Roots Tour kicks off with back-to-back nights in Indianapolis Aug. 21-22 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. ... Read full story
Jul 7, 2026 Source Materials: TV/radio personality Kelly Sutton and Grand Ole Opry member Mandy Barnett will co-host the 23rd Source Nashville Hall of Fame Awards... Read full story
Jul 7, 2026 Up Stream: Radio’s future and its foundation both get the spotlight, as RadioAnalyzer makes the case for stream-based music research and Source marks ... Read full story
Jul 7, 2026 Bits & Pieces: After workshopping last summer at Nashville's Fisher Center for the Performing Arts under a slightly different name, Dolly Parton's... Read full story
Jul 6, 2026 Hat Act: Connoisseur KUPL/Portland, OR MD/midday host Jamie "J.T." Tanchyk retains his Country music duties, but segues his ... Read full story
Jul 6, 2026 Herring Aid: As announced via Breaking News, Triple Tigers Co-President Kevin Herring has transitioned to an advisory role focusing on A&... Read full story
Jul 6, 2026 Gig Alert: Audacy's KILT/Houston continues to seek a morning show, with VPP Bruce Logan specifying "strong individual players or especially teams" are... Read full story
Jul 6, 2026 Here & Now: Marc Media WPHR/Fort Pierce, FL repositioned its format ahead of the Independence Day weekend, now using the slogan "Your Country ... Read full story
Jul 6, 2026 That's Texas: Radio finalists for the Texas Country Music Awards include: Terrestrial Radio Station of the Year: KABT/Abilene KFWR/Fort Worth KKMJ/... Read full story
Jul 6, 2026 ICYMI: Ashley McBryde joined The Kelly Clarkson Show for a performance of “Lines In The Carpet” and conversation about her sobriety journey, ... 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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