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In This Issue (3/9) 

"I use that every single day, even when I’m dealing with situations where there’s some negativity."

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Radio Vision

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Walk The Liner: Mercury's Jacob Hackworth commemorates his first station visit with WSOC/Charlotte's Cameron Moore (top) and his first radio liners for WKKT/Charlotte's Ashley Wilson and Graham Bunn (bottom).

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Work Of Heart: WUSY/Chattanooga's Heart Strings For Hope benefit show raises more than $500,000 for St. Jude. Pictured (back, l-r) are Riser House/Columbia’s Mitchell Tenpenny, Sawgod/Columbia NY/Triple Tigers' Ella Langley, Big Loud's Lauren Alaina, Mercury's Tucker Wetmore and singer/songwriter Kelley Lovelace; (front, l-r) Triple Tiger's Blake Nixon, SMN's Jansen Morgan, the station's Melissa "Mo" Wagner and Greg “StyckMan” Owens, Big Loud's Kelley Bradshaw, the station's Ken Hicks and Jaclyn Davis, Audacy's Katie Neal, the station's Justin Cole, Tyler Stansell and Cowboy Kyle Croft and Mercury's Trudie Daniell and Jimmy Rector. Pictured (bottom) Langley (c) celebrates No. 1 "Choosin' Texas" with Nixon, Wagner, Cole and TT's Julianna Vaughn (l-r). 

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BIG Time: Nash. Harbor's Greylan James (c) with WPGB/Pittsburgh’s Dan Quindlen, Travis Marzina, Mike Kasper and Joe Seaman (l-r) at the station's Next BIG Thing.

Scout-Speer31226.jpg Signage: Singer/songwriter Scout Speer signs with Sony Music Publishing Nashville in partnership with songwriter Dan Isbell. Pictured (l-r) are SMP's Chelsea Kent, Rusty Gaston, Tom Luteran and Cam Caldwell, Speer, Isbell, attorney Scott Safford and Interstate Music's Jeff Peterson.
Jamie-Moore31226.jpg Signage: Songwriter/producer Jamie Moore signs with Spirit Music Group. Pictured (front, l-r) are SMG's Kennedy Murphy, Moore and SMG's Mike Fiorentino and AJ Burton; (back, l-r) SMG's Jane Wahlfeldt, Ryan Johnson, Brian Bradford, Will Cooper, Jake Pieklik, Frank Rogers and Andy Hodges.
jellyroll31126.jpg Roll Call: Stoney Creek's Jelly Roll is inducted into the Grand Ole Opry (top) and celebrates three No. 1s ( “Liar,” “Heart Of Stone” and “Halfway To Hell") yesterday (3/10) in Nashville. Pictured (top, l-r) the Opry's Dan Rogers and Kelly Sutton, Lily Isaacs, Larry Gatlin, Leanne Morgan, Lainey Wilson, Mr. Roll, Craig Morgan, Ernest, Sonya Isaacs and the Opry's Jenn Tressler; (bottom, back, l-r) BMI’s Clay Bradley, Tape Room Music’s Katherine Godwin, ASCAP’s Emilia James, Back Blocks Music’s Rakiyah Marshall, Rhythm House’s Vanna Moua, Big Machine Music’s Tim Hunze, Madfun Entertainment’s Alicia Pruitt, Tape Room Music’s Caroline Hodson and Sony Music Publishing’s Kenley Flynn; (bottom, front, l-r) the label's Jon Loba, songwriters Blake Pendergrass, Ashley Gorley, Taylor Phillips, Mr. Roll, Zach Crowell and Ben Johnson and Studio Bank’s Ron Cox.
Chris-Young31126.jpg The Man I Want To Beasley: Black River's Chris Young (r) with Beasley's Justin Chase.
Dylan-Scott31126.jpg The Big D: Curb's Dylan Scott (c) with the label's Allyson Gelnett (Massey) and KSCS/Dallas' Mike Preston at the Texas Independence Jam.
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Knockin' Chutes: MCA's Luke Bryan plays Rodeo Houston for the 13th time. Pictured (l-r) are KILT's Nick Russo and Chris Huff, Bryan, KKBQ's Andy "Riggs" Riggle, the label's Annie Sandor and KKBQ's Travis Moon and Kaitlyn Maida Shelton.

Jacob-Hackworth31126.jpg Signage: Singer/songwriter Jacob Hackworth signs with The Neal Agency for booking. Pictured (l-r) are TNA's Ryan Beuschel and Jake Moore, Hackworth and Goat Island's Kos Weaver and Sam Shelton.
BOC31026.jpg It's Tour Love: Live Nation's Brian O’Connell receives the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award at the Opry House. Pictured (l-r) are MCA's Keith Urban, Big Machine's Tim McGraw, Big Loud's Lauren Alaina, O'Connell, Nan Kingsley, the Opry's Dan Rogers and EMI's Tyler Hubbard.
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I Own This Barrel: Warner's Braxton Keith (c) with the label's Kristen Williams, KKBQ's Lauren "Lo" Sessions-Barker and Travis Moon and the label's Mark Niederhauser (l-r) at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Preston-Cooper3926.jpg Meat And Greet: Blue Highway's Preston Cooper (c) with KILT/Houston's Chris Huff (l) and Bruce Logan at the station's Honky Tonk at the World Championship BBQ Cookoff.
ericchurch31026.jpg Desperate Manning: EMI's Eric Church (c) with The Big 615's Monta Vaden and guest Aaron Killian in Knoxville.
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Women In FEM: BBRMG artists and staff celebrate International Women's Month at FEMco's Anzie Blue showcase in Nashville. Pictured (front, l-r) are the label's JoJamie Hahr, Alison Nichols, HunterGirl, Madeline Merlo, Lanie Gardner and Mary Kutter; (back, l-r) By Design's Josh Bailey, Alex Jude, Alison Turner, Zoe Levert, Jillian Edwards, Josh Pauley, FEMco's Leslie Fram and Chader Consulting’s Lisa Chader.

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Mass. Hysteria: Atlantic/Warner/WRN's Bailey Zimmerman celebrates eight new RIAA certifications with his label team in Boston. Pictured (l-r) are Cris Lacy, Anna Cage, Mike Dupree, Kristen Williams, Zimmerman, Anna Pittman, Victoria Mason, Rohan Kohli, Claire Russo, Jackson Ammons and Justin Newell.

Hudson-Westbrook3926.jpg House On Fire (Again): River House/Warner/WAR’s Hudson Westbrook opens for Bailey Zimmerman in Boston. Pictured (l-r) are RH's Helena Akhtar, WKLB's Ben Beaulieu, Warner's Connor Brock, WBWL's Jessica Callahan, Warner's Kristen Williams, WKLB's Dawn Santolucito, Westbrook, Warner's Anna Cage, WPOR/Portland, ME's Jon Shannon, RH's Lance Houston and WBWL's Brandon Clay.
Carter-Faith3926.jpg Cherry Valley Of The Sun: MCA/Gatsby's Carter Faith in Phoenix. Pictured (top, l-r) are the label's Donna Jo Passuntino, KNIX's Reid Spivey, Faith and KNIX's Lois Lewis; (bottom, l-r) Faith, KMLE's Drew Bland and Passuntino.
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Bee A Light: WBYT/South Bend, IN's annual St Jude radiothon raises a station-record-setting $359,335. Pictured (l-r) are Keith Moody, Jesse Garcia, Deb Miles and Brittney Baily.

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Like I Love Country Music Gives: Speaking of St. Jude radiothons, KFKF/Kansas City's raised more than $300,000. Pictured (back, l-r) are Ed Walker, Dale Carter, Debbie Erikson and Jock Tater; (front, l-r) Jim Daniels and Mallory Kay.

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And/OR: And KRWQ/Medford, OR's 23rd Annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Radiothon raises $190,052. Pictured (l-r) are the station's DJ Scuba Steve and Karyn Pree, ALSAC/St. Jude's Tyler Pagel, the station's George Feola, Bryce Burtner and Bryan Coppedge and Mini Pet Mart's Megan Bosse.

Top Stories

January CDM Ratings
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Share-acuse: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for January 2026 (three-month rolling average, 10/16/25-2/4/26) compared with November and December. 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 
5.1 (3) - 5.4 (2) - 5.1 (2)

Charleston, SC
(76)   
WCKN Saga
4.3 (4t) - 3.6 (4t) - 4.0 (3)
WEZL 
iHeartMedia
4.6 (3) - 4.4 (3) - 3.5 (5t)
Monterey, CA
(98) 

KTOM iHeartMedia
2.8 (8t) - 2.2 (10) - 2.9 (8)

Syracuse, NY
(101)
WBBS iHeartMedia
7.0 (2) - 7.0 (2) - 7.5 (1t)
WOLF FoxFur
3.1 (8) - 3.4 (6) - 3.7 (6)
Largest share since Sept. 2024.
Mar 12, 2026 Share
January CDM Ratings

wrbtlogo24.jpg 1Bob Report: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for January 2026 (three-month rolling average, 10/16/25-2/4/26) compared with November and December. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Albuquerque, NM (Market 72) 

KBQI iHeartMedia
3.7 (8t) - 3.8 (6) - 3.2 (7)
KBQI-HD2 iHeartMedia Cl. Ctry.
2.2 (15) - 2.0 (13) - 1.9 (14)
KRST 
Cumulus
4.0 (6) - N/A - N/A
Does not subscribe.

El Paso, TX
(77)

KHEY iHeartMedia
5.2 (7) - 5.4 (6) - 5.7 (5t)

Harrisburg, PA
(87)
WRBT iHeartMedia
4.5 (5) - 4.7 (2) - 4.8 (2t)
Largest share since Oct. 2024.
Mar 11, 2026 Share
January CDM Ratings
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Feats Of Bakersfield: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for January 2026 (three-month rolling average, 10/16/25-2/4/26) compared with November and December. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Bakersfield, CA
(Market 83)  
KUZZ Owens
8.0 (1) - 8.5 (1) - 10.3 (1)
Largest share since Feb. 2021.
KCWR Owens Classic Country
1.5 (16) - 1.8 (13t) - 1.5 (16t)
KRJK 
Owens
1.2 (17t) - 1.5 (17t) - 0.9 (23)
Knoxville, TN
(71)
WCYQ SummitMedia
2.4 (10t) - 2.5 (7) - 3.1 (7t)
WDKW Midwest Classic Country
1.7 (14) - 2.3 (8t) - 3.1 (7t)
Largest share since July 2023.
WIVK Cumulus
11.2 (1) - N/A - N/A
Does not subscribe.
Omaha, NE
(74) 
KXKT iHeartMedia 
9.3 (1) - 9.5 (1) - 9.8 (1)
KFFF iHeartMedia Classic Country
2.7 (10t) - 2.8 (10t) - 2.6 (13t)
Tulsa, OK
(63) 
KVOO Griffin Classic Country 
4.5 (4) - 4.9 (4) - 5.7 (3)
First format lead since last May.
KXBL Griffin
4.9 (3) - 5.5 (3) - 5.5 (4)
KVOO and KXBL switched call letters on Jan. 5 (CAT 12/18), but programming and branding remained otherwise unchanged. Trending follows frequencies rather than call letters.
KTGX iHeartMedia
2.2 (11) - 1.8 (12) - 1.8 (11t)
KWEN 
Zoellner
Does not subscribe.
Mar 10, 2026 Share
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Mar 12, 2026 Trace Atkins: Former West Virginia Radio Corp. (WVRC)/Cumberland, MD OM Casey Atkins has joined SummitMedia WKHK/Richmond, VA as Mgr./Promotions ... Read full story
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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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