The country radio industry gathered again in Nashville, TN to learn, listen, and network
Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2024 is in the bag. The biggest names in country radio gathered last week to hear the latest studies on their industry, dive into new technologies, network, and of course, hear the latest hits from superstars and up-and-coming talent.
Warner Music Group Nashville, Big Machine Label Group, and Universal Music all held lunchtime showcases. Each offered surprise performances along with their announced lineup. Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani joined on the first day to sing a rendition of their “Nobody But You” and the catchy new duet, “Purple Irises.” Warren Zeiders displayed why he recently had the No. 1 song in the country with “Pretty Little Poison” with a stripped-down acoustic set.
Chris Stapleton kicked off the Team UMG show–which occurred at Ryman Auditorium for the 15th year in a row. The War and Treaty earned the only full-house standing ovation of the night, proving what fans on the road have known for the last two years: these powerhouses are on the way to superstardom. They even earned a shoutout from icon Keith Urban, who closed out the night by premiering his latest single, “Messed Up As Me” and offering an acoustic “Wasted Time.”
The BMLG luncheon featured Carly Pearce, who just that day announced her fourth studio album, Hummingbird. She performed the title track. Jackson Dean earned the best reception of the night, with his aggressive vocals and killer music, you’d think the rising star was already a legend. Speaking of legends, Garth Brooks and Ronnie Dunn surprised the crowd by closing out the night with “Rodeo Man,” which BMLG is promoting the song to radio. The two Okies appeared after Scott Borchetta paid tribute to late Oklahoma native Toby Keith, who was supposed to be the surprise guest at both the Big Machine luncheon and that night’s New Faces gala. It was the 30th anniversary of Keith’s appearance on New Faces of Country Music.
Amazon Hot Country held a showcase of new talent, with headliners Lady A opting for an acoustic look at their Request Line Tour. The threesome took requests submitted by CRS attendees and Amazon execs, and closed with a powerfully bare “Need You Now.”
Broken Bow Records opted to host a party, parading out talent including Elvie Shane and Jason Aldean to sing covers of dance-floor staples throughout the decades. Color Me Badd surprised everyone with a 20-minute retro hip-hop set. “Wanna Sex You Up” was not on my country conference bingo card, but it was amusing! BBR choosing to have their artist let loose–instead of hawking their new stuff–is a testament to the versatility of their artists. You haven’t lived till you’ve heard Jason Aldean sing “Summer of ‘69” or Hunter Girl belt out “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Aldean introduced John Morgan, the first signee to his Night Train Records imprint at Broken Bow.
The New Faces of Country Music gala, benefiting St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, featured Corey Kent, George Birge, Conner Smith, Dillon Carmichael, and Megan Moroney. All five should be somewhat familiar names, as having a Top 25 hit at country radio is a prerequisite to qualify for the prestigious class. Each impressed with their style, with Dillon Carmichael having the most impactful set of the night emotionally, with “Son of A” bringing the room to tears.
Conner Smith brought the party to New Faces, with a jumpy “Creek Will Rise,” while Corey Kent and George Birge had rocker attitudes infused in their music. Megan Moroney closed the night in a Barbie-pink dress and holding a sparkly guitar while singing “Tennessee Orange.”
During the gala, The Big 615’s Storme Warren won the Humanitarian Award and delivered an emotional speech saying that all he wanted to do was give back to the community because that’s how he was raised. His heart and soul are clearly in the good work that can come from success in the radio industry. The Big 615’s Music Director, Monta Vaden, was the first woman to win the National Programmer/Curator Award. Warren and Vaden are part of The Big 615 and Sevens Radio Network team that Brooks assembled less than a year ago to play a part in his dream of launching a truly global country music station in conjunction with TuneIn.
CRS wouldn’t be CRS without a multitude of talks each day. Artificial intelligence loomed large over the seminar, with multiple panels on the influence of technology on the broadcasting industry. One panel focused on data related to on-air talent and discussed how a good host can keep a listener tuned to a station for long periods. The presenter from the Smith-Geiger group trotted out some impressive data that shows that terrestrial radio is a close No. 2 to digital streaming, and is far and away the preferred method of listening over other forms of music consumption and that hosts are a large part of that.
There were also panels for people looking to advance in the industry. Country radio is a small-town community at heart, that seeks to lift each other and inspire. Even those who are steady in their gigs at radio, print, or television walked away inspired and with a few new friends. I know I did.
In the coming days, we’ll have our interviews with artists including Mae Estes, Shenandoah, Blanco Brown, and tons more coming to you here and on our social media platforms.
