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In This Issue (4/13) 

“I’ve been able to validate them, empathize with them and appropriately challenge them or reframe something. Those are all things I’m also doing as a therapist.”

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Radio Vision

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Meowdy: The Core/Mercury's Josh Ross plays WYCT/Pensacola, FL's Cat Country Close Up. Pictured (back, l-r) are the station's Kevin King and Brent Lane, Ross, The Cat and the station's Ashley Denny, Jordan Glass and Tyler Riggs; (front, l-r) the station's Nadia Palag, Taska King and Jayden Dobbs.

Kameron-Marlowe41426.jpg Coming Out Of My Cave And I've Been Doing Just Fine: Columbia's Kameron Marlowe with his team at The Caverns Friday (4/10). Pictured (l-r) are the label's Caryl Atwood and Christy Garbinski, Marlowe, Red Light's Kaitlin Madewell and the label's Lauren Taylor, Liz Cost and Rachel Hobbs.
Bailey-Zimmerman41426.jpg The Pitt: Atlantic/Warner/WRN's Bailey Zimmerman (in hat) with WDSY's Mark Anderson, WPGB's Mike Kasper and the label's Justin Newell (l-r) in Pittsburgh.
Ian-Munsick41326.jpg After Park: West To The Rest/Triple Tigers' Ian Munsick (c) with KUZZ/Bakersfield's Kenn McCloud, Brent Michaels and Ness Heraldez and the label's Dave Collins (l-r) at Boots in the Park.
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Going For Ads: Big Machine's Cole Goodwin and his label team fly a "Howdy" banner (inset) over Tortuga Music Festival in Fort Lauderdale. Pictured (l-r) are Liz Santana, Jimmy Harnen, Goodwin and Jay Cruze.

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X On The Beach: Back Blocks/Big Loud's Ashley Cooke with the Audacy team at Tortuga Music Festival. Pictured (back, l-r) are Back Blocks' Emily Crews and Rakiyah Marshall England, the label's Lauren "LT" Thomas and Sarah Headley, Justin Cole, Cooke, Dina B, Chad Fitzsimmons, Sabrina Sergio, Katie Neal; (front, l-r) Tyler Stansell, Brian Barnas, Samantha Rudnick and Tim Conlon.

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I Can't Believe It's Not Gutter: KFKF & KBEQ/Kansas City's Ashley Snow, Dale Carter, Codie Allen, Ed Walker, Mallory Kay, Marissa Leggio, Jim Daniels and Debbie Erikson (l-r) at the stations' annual St. Jude Bowl-4-Life.

Thomas-Rhett41326.jpg Ain't A Plaid Life: Blue Highway's Thomas Rhett with the KEEY crew at Morgan Wallen’s Still the Problem Tour kickoff in Minneapolis. Pictured (l-r) are Gregg Swedberg, Rhett, Patrick Knight and Rich Davis.
Dierks-Bentley41326.jpg Burning Humanitarian: MCA's Dierks Bentley is presented the 2025 CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award by CMA's Sarah Trahern during a CMA Songwriters Series show at Racket NYC in New York City.

Top Stories

Three Depart Black River Promo
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Black River SVP/Promotion Bill Macky has exited after 13 years amid promotion department restructuring and is seeking his next opportunity. Macky joined Black River as VPP in 2012 and rose to helm the department for the second time two years ago (Breaking News 3/14/2024). Prior stops include Epic, Sony and MCA; reach him here.

Concurrently, Midwest regional Joe Carroll and West Coast rep Jim Malito have also exited. Carroll has been with Black River for 16 years (CAT 1/3/2008) after runs with Category 5, Equity and Rust; Malito was hired in 2024 (CAT 10/23/2024) after stops including Stone Country, BBR and Warner. Reach Malito here.

"We are incredibly grateful for the work and service of these great people," says Black River CEO Gordon Kerr. Details on the newly restructured promotion staff are coming soon.

Apr 13, 2026 Share
ACM Industry & SRA Nominees
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Nominees for the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards in Industry Awards and Studio Recording Awards categories are:

Bass

  • Eli Beaird
  • Tony Lucido
  • Steve Mackey
  • Mike Rinne
  • Jimmie Lee Sloas

Drummer

  • Fred Eltringham
  • Evan Hutchings
  • Chris McHugh
  • Nir Z
  • Jerry Roe

Acoustic Guitar

  • Kris Donegan
  • Todd Lombardo
  • Devin Malone
  • Bryan Sutton
  • Ilya Toshinskiy

Piano 

  • Dave Cohen
  • David Dorn
  • Charlie Judge
  • Billy Justineau
  • Gordon Mote

Specialty Instrument

  • Eleonore Denig
  • Stuart Duncan
  • Mike Johnson
  • Scotty Sanders
  • Justin Schipper

Electric Guitar

  • Kris Donegan
  • Nathan Keeterle
  • Rob McNelley
  • Sol Philcox-Littlefield
  • Derek Wells

Audio Engineer

  • Dave Clauss
  • Jim Cooley
  • Eric Masse
  • Buckley Miller
  • Justin Niebank

Producer

  • Will Bundy
  • Carson Chamberlain
  • Dann Huff
  • Chris LaCorte
  • Ben West

Casino, Theater

  • Choctaw Grand Theater; Durant, OK
  • Golden Nugget Lake Charles; Lake Charles, LA
  • Hard Rock Live (Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood); Davie, FL
  • Resorts World Theatre at Resorts World Las Vegas; Las Vegas
  • The Venue at Thunder Valley at Thunder Valley Casino; Lincoln, CA

Casino, Arena

  • BECU Live at Northern Quest Casino; Airway Heights, WA
  • Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena; Atlantic City, NJ
  • Mohegan Sun Arena; Uncasville, CT
  • Soaring Eagle; Mount Pleasant, MI
  • Stir Concert Cove; Council Bluffs, IA

Festival

  • C2C: Country to Country Festival; London, England
  • CMC Rocks; Ipswich, Queensland
  • Stagecoach; Indio, CA
  • Tortuga Music Festival; Ft. Lauderdale
  • Two Step In; Georgetown, TX

Fair/Rodeo

  • Calgary Stampede; Calgary, Alberta
  • California Mid-State Fair; Paso Robles, CA
  • Cheyenne Frontier Days; Cheyenne, WY
  • Florida Strawberry Festival; Plant City, FL
  • San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo; San Antonio

Club 

  • Billy Bob’s Texas; Fort Worth
  • Brooklyn Bowl; Nashville
  • Cain's Ballroom; Tulsa
  • Joe's Live; Rosemont, IL
  • The Pinnacle; Nashville

Theater

  • Blue Gate Theatre; Shipshewana, IN
  • Grand Ole Opry House; Nashville
  • State Theatre; Portland, ME
  • The Franklin Theatre; Franklin, TN
  • Ryman Auditorium; Nashville

Outdoor Venue

  • CMAC; Canandaigua, NY
  • Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre; Denver
  • Floores Country Store; Helotes, TX
  • The Orion Amphitheater; Huntsville, AL
  • Red Rocks Amphitheatre; Morrison, CO
  • Walmart AMP (Arkansas Music Pavilion); Rogers, AR

Arena

  • BOK Center; Tulsa, OK
  • Bridgestone Arena; Nashville
  • Dickies Arena; Ft. Worth
  • Paycom Center; Oklahoma City
  • T-Mobile Center; Kansas City

Don Romeo Talent Buyer

  • Andrew Fortin, Neste Live!
  • Susan Heymann, Frontier Touring
  • Stacy Vee, Goldenvoice
  • Ed Warm, Joe's Concerts
  • Del Williams, Danny Wimmer Presents

Promoter

  • Patrick McDill, Live Nation
  • Brian O'Connell, Live Nation
  • Bob Roux, Live Nation
  • Rich Schaefer, AEG Presents
  • Adam Weiser, AEG Presents

Winners in these categories will be announced in the coming weeks, with honorees recognized at the 19th Academy of Country Music Honors in Nashville later this year. Nominees in main categories will be celebrated May 17 at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, streamed live on Prime Video. Voting starts today and Country Aircheck's ACM Voter's Guide will be published this afternoon.

Apr 13, 2026 Share
Mabe Launches, Staffs Up Joan Of Arc Music
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Former UMG/Nashville (now MCA) Chair & CEO Cindy Mabe has launched and staffed Joan of Arc Music, described as a "360 entertainment ecosystem focusing on artist development and media innovation." The company bows with a "strategic distribution partnership" with Warner Records Nashville (WRN). Joining the Nashville-based company's all-female leadership team in unspecified roles are former UMGN EVP/Marketing Lori Christian, former UMGN SVP/Digital Business & Creative Development Dawn Gates (most recently operator of consulting/management firm Seven Note Enterprises (CAT 4/24/25)), former Grae Area Records/ONErpm artist/songwriter Harper Grae, former UMGN Mgr./Marketing & Artist Development Leigh Morrison and i3 CEO/founder Allison Winkler, who has held COO roles with Ricky Martin Enterprises/the Ricky Martin Foundation and The Avril Lavigne Foundation.

The company's four divisions include Joan of Arc Entertainment (artist management, recorded music/label services, project development and marketing, and publishing services), Joan of Arc Studio Works (content creation including audio and TV/film production), Joan of Arc Ventures (strategic investments in partnerships and equity-backed ventures) and philanthropic arm the Joan of Arc Music Preservation Foundation. In addition to the WRN deal, the company's inaugural partnerships include the CMA Foundation, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and mental health & wellness nonprofit Porter's Call.

Mabe left UMG in 2025 after nearly 18 years with the label group and two at the helm (CAT 2/6/25). Reach Mabe here, Christian here, Gates here, Grae here, Morrison here and Winkler here.

Apr 14, 2026 Share
February CDM Ratings
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Rock Steady: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for February 2026 (three-month rolling average, 12/10/25-3/4/26) compared with December and January. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Columbia, SC
(Market 89)

WCOS iHeartMedia
7.5 (2) - 6.8 (2) - 5.9 (2)

Little Rock, AR
(94)   
KSSN iHeartMedia
7.6 (2) - 6.6 (2) - 6.6 (2)
KMJX iHeartMedia Cl. Country
3.0 (5) - 2.5 (5t) - 3.2 (4)
Springfield, MA
(102)
WRNX iHeartMedia 
4.2 (4) - 4.3 (4) - 4.7 (5)
Toledo, OH
(108) 
WCKY iHeartMedia Classic Country
1.3 (8) - 1.2 (7) - 0.9 (7)
WKKO Cumulus
Does not subscribe.
Apr 14, 2026 Share
February CDM Ratings
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Every Which Way But 'Cuse: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for February 2026 (three-month rolling average, 12/10/25-3/4/26) compared with December and January. 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 
5.4 (2) - 5.1 (2) - 4.7 (3t)

Charleston, SC
(76)   
WEZL iHeartMedia
4.4 (3) - 3.5 (5t) - 4.4 (3)
WCKN
 Saga
3.6 (4t) - 4.0 (3) - 3.7 (5)
Monterey, CA
(98) 

KTOM iHeartMedia
2.2 (10) - 2.9 (8) - 2.7 (9)

Syracuse, NY
(101)
WBBS iHeartMedia
7.0 (2) - 7.5 (1t) - 8.3 (1)
WOLF FoxFur
3.4 (6) - 3.7 (6) - 4.0 (5)
Largest share since Sept. 2024.
Apr 13, 2026 Share
Recent Stories
Apr 14, 2026 Deseret State: Former Stone Canyon/Flagstaff, AZ MM Brandon "Shotgun Jackson" Young has been named Dir./Operations & Programming at Azed... Read full story
Apr 14, 2026 Arc de Triomphe: Saying the company "exists to be warriors for creators and protect artistry," former UMG/Nashville Chair & CEO Cindy ... Read full story
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Apr 14, 2026 Just In Trophy Case: Morgan Wallen garnered seven nominations for the 52nd American Music Awards, including as the sole country artist in both the all... Read full story
Apr 14, 2026 All Panic No Disco: From Sean Copeland, Courtney Kelley and Kristen Flowers turning morning shows into therapy sessions (literally) — with Zach John ... Read full story
Apr 14, 2026 Tour Support: Jamey Johnson's Traveling Truebadour tour kicks off May 8 in Hiawassee, GA, and runs through Oct. 11 in Verona, NY. Tickets go on sale ... Read full story
Apr 14, 2026 Bits & Pieces: MusiCares has partnered with The Jed Foundation (JED) to launch a microsite providing suicide prevention and mental health ... Read full story
Apr 14, 2026 Crib Note: Stone Country Records' Ben Gallaher and wife Monica welcomed their second child, son Jagger Blaine, April 8 in Nashville. He joins 21-... Read full story
Apr 13, 2026 Hot Air: No official word, but iHeartMedia Dir./Country Programming for the Kentucky/West Virginia division Rachel Elliot has exited. Stations under ... Read full story
Apr 13, 2026 Sadie Hawkins Day: Townsquare KUAD/Fort Collins, CO has added former crosstown KXBG morning co-host Sadie Young and former KEZJ/Twin Falls, ID ... Read full story
Apr 13, 2026 Three Exit Black River: As reported via Breaking News, Black River SVP/Promotion Bill Macky, Midwest regional Joe Carroll and West Coast rep... Read full story
Apr 13, 2026 Me And Lobby McGee: Country Aircheck’s ACM Voter’s Guide — a quick, category-by-category breakdown of nominees, complete with totally ... Read full story
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2026 ACM Voter's Guide
A quick reference guide to the 2026 ACM Nominees



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The CRS 2026 Print Special featuring: Hey-Hi, AI: Emerging Uses
Best CRS Takeaways Ever
Label Contacts
New Faces
Travis Daily: The Interview



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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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