Hannah Byrom, co-host of the “Cat Morning Crew” at Cumulus Media “Cat Country 96” WCTO Allentown, PA, plans to leave the show and relocate to Nashville. “My heart has been calling me to chase another dream,” Byrom posted to Facebook on Wednesday. She will continue with the show remotely for the next few weeks as she begins the career transition. Read More.

iHeartMedia “B104.7” WBBS Syracuse, NY, maintains its No. 1 status in the new Nielsen Audio September ’21 survey with an 8.8 12+ AQH share. In Akron, OH, Rubber City Radio WQMX (94.9) falls 7.0-5.2, while iHeartMedia WEZL Charleston, SC (103.5) dips 3.8-3.6. iHeartMedia KTOM Monterey, CA (92.7) drops 3.2-2.9. Read More.

Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood’s “If I Didn’t Love You” has been roaring up the charts for the past 11 weeks, compiling triple-digit spin increases every week along the way. It pulled off the gas a bit last week, its +102 the smallest increase of that run, as Elvis Shane’s “My Boy” went No. 1. Look for the streak to hit 12 weeks this week. Read More.

After eight years as Market President for Townsquare Media in the Lansing-Flint, MI, market, Zoe Burdine-Fly has joined Alpha Media as a Regional President, overseeing operations, talent management and the strategic growth for 13 markets, including Amarillo, TX; Bakersfield, CA; Lincoln, NE; and Topeka, KS. She will report to Alpha Chief Operating Officer Larry Bastida. Read More.

Steve Stone, production director for Cumulus Media Atlanta, has been diagnosed with stage 4 small-cell lung cancer. Stone posted news of his diagnosis to Facebook Wednesday: “Starting aggressive chemo and radiation soon. … Thank you all for your love and well-wishes as I march into battle.” Cumulus’ Atlanta cluster includes “New Country 101.FIVE” WKHX. Read More.

Jim Kovacik is named Director of Content at Townsquare Media Victoria, TX, a cluster that includes country “KIXS 108” KIXS (107.9). He succeeds Wes Adams, who has been promoted to Director of Content at Townsquare Media Grand Junction, CO. Kovacik is a 30-year veteran of Radio One hip-hop “97.9 The Box” KBXX Houston, where he served as morning-show producer and co-host. Read More.

Hall Communications has named Mark Knight OM of its Burlington, VT-Plattsburgh, NY cluster, which includes country “98.9 The Big Station” WOKO. Additionally, WOKO APD/morning host “Wild Bill” Sargeant has been promoted to PD of the station, filling the role Knight exists with his promotion. Knight succeeds Matt Grasso, who departed in August. Read More.

Stonecom has launched two stations in its Cookeville, TN, cluster — one classic country, the other sports-talk on signals that formerly carried classic country. “96.9 Highway 111 Country” WUCH Algood, TN, began broadcasting in September with Garth Brooks, George Strait, Randy Travis and Reba McEntire as core artists. “Sports Radio 104.7” debuted Oct. 14 on the Cookeville-licensed translator W284DR and WKXD-HD3 Monterey, which broadcasts at 106.9. Read More.

Parker McCollum is the newest addition to Apple Music’s Up Next program, the service’s monthly artist initiative for promoting rising talent. As part of the campaign, The “To Be Loved by You” singer will perform on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (Nov. 23, 11:35pm ET, ABC). He’s also the subject of an Up Next short film and a sit-down interview with Apple Music Country host Kelleigh Bannen. Read More.

Luke Bryan didn’t need to announce a full lineup for “Crash My Playa 2022” to sell it out: He did that through pre-sales in April. Now attendees know who’ll they’ll see: Bryan, Jason Aldean and Dustin Lynn as headliners, with Ashley McBryde, Riley Green, Jimmie Allen, Jameson Rodgers, LoCashn and more. The vacation event is set for Jan. 19-22, 2022, at Mexico’s Moon Palace Cancún. Read More.

He’s got country’s No. 1 single, and now “My Boy” singer Elvie Shane has a new publishing deal, signing a worldwide agreement with Rome Phrey Publishing and Warner Chappell Music Nashville. “He’s carving his own path, and his honest and powerful storytelling is really resonating with fans,” WCM Nashville President/CEO Ben Vaughn says. Shane’s debut album, “Backslider,” is due Oct. 29. Read More.

Texas singer Aaron Watson has the greatest spin gainer on this week’s CDX TRACtion True Indie chart, as “Crash Landing” (BIG Label Records) soars eight spots from No. 26-No. 18 in its second week on the chart. Craig Campbell’s “Never Mine” (Grindstone Records) extends its No. 1 run, and JD Shelburne’s independently released “Hometown in My Headlights” moves into the Top 10. Read More.

In 2009, Curb Records artist Hannah Ellis planned to pursue a sports-medicine career through her full-ride scholarship to the University of Kentucky. That all changed when she took her younger sister to see “Hannah Montana: The Movie.” Read More.

Miranda Lambert’s been all over the place this year: With Elle King on “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home),” “The Marfa Tapes” with Jon Randall and Jack Ingram, the upcoming holiday album with the Pistol Annies. With “If I Was a Cowboy,” this week’s most-added record, she has brand-new solo music, too. The record got picked up by 103 Mediabase reporters in its first week. Read More.

With Cody Johnson’s “Human The Double Album” album dropping Oct. 8, his single “Til You Can’t” got a giant boost in consumption to the tune of 115% and saw a jump in streaming of 2.2 million since the previous week, up to 4.6 million this week. Johnson had the week’s top-debuting country album and three of the week’s five most-consumed new country track releases. Read More.

In Tuesday’s September ’21 results from Nielsen Audio, iHeartMedia “Big I 107.9” KBQI retakes the format lead in Albuquerque, NM, leading Cumulus Media “92.3 KRST Country” 4.0-3.9 in 12+ AQH share. In El Paso, TX, iHeartMedia “96.3 KHEY Country” draws a 6.1, down from 7.7. iHeartMedia “BOB 94.9” WRBT’s 3.2 is enough for the format lead in Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, PA. Read More.

Larry B, morning host at Grant County Broadcasters “Classic Country 105.9 & 106.7” WNKN/WNKR Middletown, OH/Williamstown, KY, is retiring at month’s end following a 50-year career. Larry B has been with WNKN/WNKR since 1998 but also worked at WNKN when it was adult alternative “105.9 The Rebel” and for WUBE Cincinnati during the 1970s. Larry B’s final shift will be Friday, Oct. 29. Read More.

The Country Music Association has extended its long-standing contract with Robert Deaton. An Executive Producer behind the “CMA Awards,” “CMA Fest” and “CMA Country Christmas,” Deaton will remain producer through 2026. “The passion Robert Deaton has for country music and the genre’s history is truly special,” CMA CEO Sarah Trahern said in a release. Read More.

Garth Brooks returns to Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Friday, Nov. 19, and Saturday, Nov. 20. The intimate evening will have the singer telling the stories behind his hits to a limited-capacity venue. Tickets, priced at $250, go on sale Friday (10am CT). During Monday’s “Inside Studio G” Facebook stream, Brooks hinted at the possibility of future residencies in Nashville and Las Vegas. Read More.

Garth Brooks will help present Charley Pride’s RIAA Lifetime Achievement Award during a ceremony Monday at Nashville’s National Museum of African American Music. RIAA Chairman & CEO Mitch Glazier and COO Michele Ballantyne will present a plaque to the late singer’s family, and songwriter, author and Vanderbilt University faculty member Alice Randall will conduct a Q&A with Brooks about Pride and his influence. Read More.

The Country Radio Broadcasters is now accepting applications for the Rusty Walker Scholarship program. Through the program, the Country Radio Seminar gives complimentary registration to three radio employees who have never attended the three-day event. Each scholarship includes a full CRS 2022 registration, airfare and accommodations for three nights Feb. 22-Feb. 25, 2022. Eligible applicants must be full-time radio station employees. Read More.

BRELAND hosts the inaugural episode of Spotify’s new podcast series, “Spotify: Discover This.” Throughout the 40-minute episode, “Expanding the Sound of Country Music,” the singer visits with Shania Twain, Lauren Alaina and Lily Rose while discussing the evolution of country music and the expanding new songs and faces of today’s genre. The episode is available to stream free via Spotify. Read More.

The Recording Academy releases its “64th Annual GRAMMY Awards” show inclusion rider. The contract provision sets forth a process for hiring and casting to expand and diversify the candidate pool as well as encourages hiring cast and crew who have been traditionally underrepresented. “This is only the beginning,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in a release. Read More.

Academy of Country Music CEO Damon Whiteside married Collective Artist Management VP Craig Dunn on Saturday at Watersound Beach Club in Watersound, FL. “Our dog Jake was our ring bearer,” Dunn tells Country Insider. “Our moms walked us down the aisle. Kerri Fox Metoyer was the officiant.” Read More.