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In This Issue (1/26) 

"This is kind of the sad story of radio that there are not a lot of small market morning shows."

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Radio Vision

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Panic At The Desk-o: Valory's MacKenzie Carpenter plays for the winners of WDAF/Kansas City's Office Concert contest. Pictured (l-r) are the station's Mike "Jagger" Thomas, Carpenter and the station's Matt Gapske and Jenny Matthews.

Messina12926.jpg Throwback Thursday: Messina Touring, now celebrating its 25th anniversary, launches with Kenny Chesney in 2002.
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Signage: Savage Music launches a publishing division. The company's Anna Bates (far right) is pictured with its roster: Beachmont's Tyler Savoie, India Ramey, Mason Caviness, Nell Maynard, Beachmont's Josh Polack and Jaime Hart.

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Midnight And Miss. You: Broken Bow's Jason Aldean (c) with the label's Scotty O'Brien (l) and WWMS/Tupelo's Scott Spencer.

gaurantycopr2_012826.jpg Foster Family: Guaranty Corp./Media's Flynn Foster presents a combined $234,980 to Dreams Come True of Louisiana (top, with the organization's Becky Prejean) and The ALS Association (bottom, with Daniel Mackey, who lives with ALS) to celebrate Guaranty's 100th anniversary. 
JeannaPaulette_012826.jpg Signage: Leo33's Jenna Paulette signs with The Erv Woolsey Co. for management. Pictured with the company's Clinton Woolsey (l) and Allen Mitchell.
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Signage: Singer/songwriter Ian Munsick signs with Triple Tigers in partnership with his West To The Rest Records. Pictured (l-r) are the label's Laura Hostelley, George Couri and Annie Ortmeier, Munsick, the label's Kevin Herring and Raffaella Braun and Not A Public Figure's Caroline Munsick.

Parker-McCollum12726.jpg Living In Fresh Forward: MCA's Parker McCollum backstage in Phoenix Saturday (1/24). Pictured (l-r) are KMLE's Drew Bland, McCollum, the label's Donna Jo Passuntino and KNIX's Reid Spivey.
joshross12726.jpg Mingle Again: The Core/Mercury's Josh Ross with The Core's Chief Zaruk (l) and Simon Tikhman (r) at the company's Grammy Week kickoff event Monday (1/26) in West Hollywood.
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Buzz Feed: Warner Records Nashville's Ashley McBryde debuts new single "What If We Don't" at SiriusXM The Highway's Music Row Happy Hour with Buzz Brainard.

Bayker-Blankenship12626.jpg Max-A-Million: Santa Anna's Bayker Blankenship (c) celebrates his first platinum certification for "Maxed Out" with songwriter Trevor Daniels and RIAA's Jackie Jones.
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Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunday: MCA's Luke Bryan is presented with a No. 1 plaque for "Sunday In The South" by Shenandoah during Crash My Playa. Pictured (l-r) are Shenandoah's manager Cole Johnstone, the group's Mike McGuire and Marty Raybon, Bryan and his manager Kerri Edwards.

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WIRK Flow: Broken Bow's Dustin Lynch plays WIRK/West Palm Beach, FL first Secret Session of 2026. Pictured (l-r) are the station's Moriah Daniels and Tim Leary, Lynch and the station's Chelsea Taylor, Nick Rivers and Eddie E.

Top Stories

Jamie Younger Joins Big Loud
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The Core Records' Jamie Younger has joined Big Loud as VP/Marketing, overseeing strategy and execution for select artists. She reports to SVP/Head of Marketing Brianne Deslippe. Younger most recently headed release strategy and artist development at The Core Records after 12 years at Warner Music Nashville. "Jamie is a proven, artist-first marketing executive with a track record of delivering culturally impactful campaigns across both emerging and established artists," Deslippe says. Adds Younger, "I'm eager to help amplify these world-class stories, drive artist marketing campaigns and further champion our incredible roster on the global stage. Reach Younger here.

Jan 29, 2026 Share
Dec CDM Ratings
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Miss Jackson: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for December 2025 (three-month rolling average, 9/18-12/10) compared with October and November. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Jackson, MS
(Market 125)
WUSJ New South
3.9 (5) - 4.8 (5) - 4.2 (6)
WMSI iHeartMedia
3.4 (7) - 2.5 (8) - 2.4 (9)
WHJT New South Classic Country
2.2 (9) - 1.0 (14t) - 1.4 (12)
Jan 29, 2026 Share
Fall Diary Ratings
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Mean Juggin': 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.

Cumulus is no longer a subscriber in diary markets.

Cheyenne, WY
(Market 239)

KOLT iHeartMedia
10.0 (1) - 7.9 (1t) - 6.8 (1t)
KRAN Freisland Classic Country
7.5 (2) - 7.9 (1t) - 6.8 (1t)

Ft. Collins, CO
(105)

KUAD Townsquare
4.2 (3) - 5.7 (1) - 5.7 (2)
KXBG iHeartMedia
2.5 (5t) - 2.0 (5t) - 2.3 (5t)

Modesto, CA
(119)
KOSO iHeartMedia
1.6 (10) - 0.6 (14) - 2.1 (6)
KATM
Cumulus
12.6 (1) - 11.5 (1) - N/A
Palm Springs, CA
(135) 
KDES Connoisseur
1.6 (15t) - 1.8 (11t) - 3.5 (7t)
KPLM
Marker
3.3 (8) - 5.2 (5) - 3.5 (7t)
San Luis Obispo, CA
(171)
KKJG AGM
7.6 (2) - 9.5 (1t) - 9.7 (1)
South Bend, IN
(182)
WBYT Pathfinder
10.8 (1) - 13.1 (1) - 12.2 (1)
WYTZ Mid-West Family
N/A - 1.6 (10) - 1.7 (9)
WYTZ/Benton Harbor, MI moved to a larger signal covering South Bend in March (CAT 2/27).
Jan 29, 2026 Share
December CDM Ratings
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Fireside Chatt: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for December 2025 (three-month rolling average, 9/18-12/10) compared with October and November. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Cumulus is no longer a subscriber in diary markets.

Chattanooga, TN
(Market 93)

WUSY Audacy
8.0 (3) - 9.6 (1) - 11.5 (1)
Largest share since July 2024.
WUUQ Bahakel Classic Country
2.9 (7t) - 3.6 (6t) - 3.3 (6)
WOGT Cumulus 
2.5 (10t) - 2.4 (9t) - N/A

Huntsville, AL
(99)          

WDRM iHeartMedia
6.7 (1) - 6.5 (1) - 7.4 (1)
WWFF Cumulus
1.8 (11) - 1.6 (11t) - N/A

Jan 28, 2026 Share
December CDM Ratings
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'COS Play: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for December 2025 (three-month rolling average, 9/18-12/10) compared with October and November. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Cumulus is no longer a subscriber in diary markets.

Columbia, SC
(Market 89)

WCOS iHeartMedia
6.3 (2) - 6.3 (3) - 7.5 (2)
Largest share since Feb. 2024.

Des Moines, IA
(70)    
KHKI Cumulus
7.2 (1t) - 7.4 (1) - N/A 
KJJY Cumulus
5.3 (5) - 5.3 (5) - N/A
Little Rock, AR
(94)   
KSSN iHeartMedia
8.5 (2) - 7.2 (4) - 7.6 (2)
KMJX iHeartMedia Cl. Country
3.1 (9) - 3.1 (10) - 3.0 (5)
Monterey, CA
(98) 
KTOM iHeartMedia
3.1 (7t) - 2.8 (8t) - 2.2 (10)
Spokane, WA
(90) 
KDRK Stephens
2.2 (8t) - 2.6 (7) - 2.6 (7t)
KICR 
Blue Sky
2.2 (8t) - 2.2 (9t) - 2.0 (12t)
KXLY QueenB
Does not subscribe.
Springfield, MA
(102)
WRNX iHeartMedia 
4.2 (4) - 4.7 (4) - 4.2 (4)
Jan 26, 2026 Share
Recent Stories
Jan 29, 2026 Holiday 2025 PPM Ratings: Day four of Nielsen Audio's Holiday 2025 (12/11/25-1/7/26) PPM ratings are below. Ranks (in parentheses) are among... Read full story
Jan 29, 2026 Best Of The West: Former Cumulus Oxnard/Ventura, CA OM Justin Taylor has returned to Broadway Media as OM for its Salt Lake City cluster, which ... Read full story
Jan 29, 2026 Give Heaven Some Help: As reported via Breaking News, The Core Entertainment VP/Artist Development Jamie Younger has been named Big Loud VP/Marketing.... Read full story
Jan 29, 2026 Research Fellow: CRS 2026 will offer three research presentations, as reported in our recent CRS preview (CAW 1/5). On March 18, NuVoodoo ... Read full story
Jan 29, 2026 Somewhere Over LA: Lainey Wilson is among the presenters for Sunday's (2/1) Grammy Awards, airing live from Los Angeles' Crypto .com Arena on CBS... Read full story
Jan 29, 2026 Show Support: Blake Shelton has added eight performances (May 6-24) to his Live in Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars ... Read full story
Jan 29, 2026 When I Call Your Fame: The Museum of Broadcast Communications is accepting nominations for the National Radio Hall of Fame’s Class... Read full story
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Jan 29, 2026 ICYMI: Brad Paisley pranked Carrie Underwood during American Idol auditions in Nashville at his alma mater, Belmont University. Paisley will... Read full story
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Jan 28, 2026 Major Generali: Longtime RCS Pres./CEO Philippe Generali will be retiring Feb. 28 after nearly three decades with the company. He will remain a ... Read full story
Jan 28, 2026 Top Line: In a memo to staff, Audacy Pres./CEO Kelli Turner outlined some internal restructuring, including a shift to "programming teams ... Read full story
Jan 28, 2026 Dolled Up: Former WKHK/Richmond, VA PD/air personality Garret Doll has joined Townsquare WOKQ/Portsmouth, NH as Brand Mgr./morning host. The... Read full story
Jan 28, 2026 Heritage Site: Saga WVVR/Clarksville, TN PD Chad Heritage is departing Feb. 6 to pursue other opportunities, and relocating to the Nashville... Read full story
Jan 28, 2026 Citizen Smith: Four 17 Artist Management owner Brandyn Steen has joined Smith Music Group in Nashville as VP/Publishing. His experience... Read full story
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Jan 28, 2026 Signage: Singer/songwriter Willow Avalon has signed with Electric Feel Management, where she will be co-managed by Moral Distaste's ... Read full story
Jan 28, 2026 ICYMI: Netflix has acquired the rights to the documentary Lainey Wilson: Keepin’ Country Cool. Jelly Roll was moved to tears by a performance of... Read full story
Jan 28, 2026 Service Update: A funeral Mass for veteran Nashville publicist Cathy Gurley will be held March 14 at 11am at Christ The King Catholic Church (3001 ... Read full story
Jan 27, 2026 KFTI-AM Goes Silent: SummitMedia Classic Country KFTI-AM/Wichita has gone off the air. Its filing with the FCC states the station went silent Jan. 16 ... Read full story
Jan 27, 2026 Cue The Crickets: Connoisseur's Keith Dakin discusses his programming oversight for the growing company, PPM drivetime leaders are celebrated and ... Read full story
Jan 27, 2026 Benefit News: Dustin Lynch and Chase Rice will headline Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO April 22. A portion of proceeds benefit the Wildland ... Read full story
Jan 26, 2026 Word Up: Curb/Word Music Publishing has promoted Sr. Dir./Creative-Country Publishing Sarah Schumacher to Head/Creative-Country Publishing ... Read full story
Jan 26, 2026 Festive All: Scotty McCreery, Jordan Davis, Zach Top, Jackson Dean, Drake Milligan and Kameron Marlowe are among the 58 artists from around the world ... Read full story
Jan 26, 2026 Extended Credit: The deadline for submissions to the 61st ACM Awards has been extended by two days to Wednesday (1/28) at 7pm (CT) due to weather ... 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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