Country Aircheck

In This Issue (7/28)

“For the artists who’ve been going out year after year for four or five years now, this is the year it’s become harder.”

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Radio Vision

Wheel Of Fortune: Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor (l) and MCA's Darius Rucker are surprised at Red Rocks with a Spotify Billions Club plaque for Rucker’s version of “Wagon Wheel."

Just The Ray: Stoney Creek's Parmalee plays WGTY/York's Summer of Boots. Pictured (l-r) are the group's Josh McSwain, the label's Lexi Willson, the group's Barry Knox, the station's Scott Donato and the group's Matt Thomas and Scott Thomas.

Cloud Aisle 9: Columbia's Megan Moroney (c) with iHeartMedia's Gregg Swedberg, the label's Anna Widmer and KEEY’s Rich Davis and Pat Knight (l-r) at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

Songs About Kansas: Broken Bow's Jason Aldean in Wichita (top) and Kansas City (bottom). Pictured (top, l-r) KFDI's JJ Hayes, Aldean, KZSN & KTGX/Tulsa's Michelle Buckles and the label's Dawn Ferris; (bottom, l-r) guest Tyler Stone, Aldean and KBEQ's Codie Allen.

Glory B-Days: MCA's Parker McCollum (top) and Warner/WAR's Gabby Barrett play WHKO/Dayton's 37th Birthday Bash at the Nutter Center. Pictured (top, l-r) are the station's Nancy Wilson, the label's Donna Jo Passuntino, McCollum and the station's Nikki Montgomery; (bottom, l-r) the station's Gracie Ray, Dalton Mathews and Montgomery, Barrett and the station's Dylan James, Wilson and Grayson Zelik.

Out(post) And About: Atlantic Outpost's Stella Lefty (c) with CMA's Sarah Trahern, the label's Lucy Bartozzi, CMA's Tiffany Kerns, Grace Martins and Kate Watson, and the label's Stephanie Hagerty (l-r) at CMA HQ.

From This Moment On-Air: Republic's Shania Twain with SiriusXM's Cody Alan at the launch of her SXM channel, Little Miss Twain Radio (105).

Check Yes Or No. 2: Akando's JC Coffey (l) and WYCT/Pensacola's Chris Clare (r) collect school supplies for the station's Stuff The Bus.

Top Stories

June CDM Ratings

Catty Corner: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for June 2026 (three-month rolling average, 4/2-6/24) compared with April and May. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Albany, NY (Market 68)	WGNA Townsquare 4.7 (4t) - 4.9 (4) - 5.6 (3) WKLI Pamal 2.7 (9t) - 3.6 (7) - 3.9 (8t) Largest share since Spring 2017. WINU Pamal Classic Country 1.7 (13t) - 1.3 (15t) - 1.2 (17t)
Syracuse, NY (101)	WBBS iHeartMedia 8.9 (1) - 9.5 (1) - 8.2 (1) WOLF FoxFur 2.6 (6t) - 2.5 (7t) - 2.7 (7)

Jul 27, 2026 Share

Spring Diary Ratings

Maine-splaining: Here are select Nielsen Audio Spring 2026 (4/2-6/24) two-book per year diary ratings for subscribing stations compared with their last books (Spring 2025 and Fall 2025). Ranks (in parentheses) are also among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Augusta, ME (Market 231)	WEBB Townsquare 4.9 (5t) - 5.7 (4) - 5.9 (4) WCTB Mountain Wireless Cl. Country 3.9 (8) - 3.8 (7t) - 3.0 (7t)
Bangor, ME (208)	WQCB Townsquare 8.1 (2) - 8.7 (3) - 9.0 (1t) WBFB Blueberry 3.7 (7t) - 3.7 (7t) - 5.1 (7) Largest share since Fall 2013. WCTB Mountain Wireless Cl. Country 1.9 (12t) - 0.6 (15t) - 1.9 (11t)
Manchester, NH (191)	WOKQ Townsquare 5.7 (3) - 5.3 (3) - 4.0 (3t) WMLL Saga 3.1 (5t) - 1.8 (5t) - 1.7 (6)
Portland, ME (92)	WTHT Binnie 4.9 (3t) - 3.6 (7) - 5.2 (4) WPOR Saga 4.9 (3t) - 4.5 (5t) - 5.0 (5)
Portsmouth, NH (118)	WOKQ Townsquare 6.7 (2) - 6.1 (2) - 6.8 (2) WTBU iHeartMedia 0.8 (8t) - 1.1 (8t) - 0.8 (7t)
Utica, NY (172)	WFRG Townsquare 9.6 (1) - 7.1 (2) - 11.0 (1) WBUG Roser 2.5 (6t) - 1.3 (8t) - 0.9 (9t)
Watertown, NY (237)	WFRY Stephens 16.9 (1) - 16.7 (1) - 15.0 (1) WEFX Community 3.6 (6) - 2.6 (7) - 3.8 (6t)

Jul 27, 2026 Share

Recent Stories

Jul 27, 2026 Rittberg Moves On: Hybe America Pres./Global Distribution Mike Rittberg has departed and is seeking his next opportunity. Rittberg joined the then-new... Read full story

Jul 27, 2026 BEG To Differ: Vector Management's Henley Halem and Kevin Spellman have joined Borchetta Entertainment Group as co-VPs. Prior to his ... Read full story

Jul 27, 2026 Major News: Big Loud Dir./Special Events Taylor Venis and MCA Coord./Promotion Kenzie Couch have joined G Major Management as Day-to-... Read full story

Jul 27, 2026 Tour Support: Tyler Braden's The Days Of Gold Tour will visit seven cities in Canada, beginning Oct. 27 in Toronto. Tickets go on sale ... Read full story

Jul 27, 2026 ICYMI: Scotty McCreery’s “Five More Minutes” is featured in the new Apple TV+ movie The Dink, starring Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen and Ed ... Read full story

Jul 27, 2026 Crib Note: The Band Loula's Logan Simmons announced on the Grand Ole Opry stage that she is expecting her first child, a boy, in early December. Watch... Read full story

Jul 24, 2026 Hall & Votes: Among the 50 nominees for the Texas Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2026 are the following with Country connections: Doug Abernethy, ... Read full story

Jul 24, 2026 Geek Squad: SeatGeek has entered into a multi-year partnership with the CMA to become the primary ticketing partner for the annual CMA Fest in ... Read full story

Jul 24, 2026 Tour Support: Brett Eldredge will embark on his holiday Glow: 10th Anniversary Tour Nov. 27-29 with three nights at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, ... Read full story

Jul 24, 2026 Bits & Pieces: Audacy KFRG/Riverside Chief Engineer Phil Vaughan found two puppies and a kitten that had been dumped at the ... Read full story

Jul 24, 2026 ICYMI: Shania Twain performed "Dirty Rosie" on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. River House Artists Founder Lynn Oliver-Cline ... Read full story

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

2026 ACM Voter's Guide
A quick reference guide to the 2026 ACM Nominees

Inside This Issue:

MC-Yay At Ryman Lunch
Disruption Junction
You Look Like You Love Me
The Day Ahead