NASHVILLE, Tennessee-Country Radio Seminar (CRS) is an annual convention designed to educate and promote exchanging ideas and business practices in the country music industry, specifically emphasizing issues relevant to country radio. CRS 2023 was held at the Omni Nashville Hotel last week.
CRS is the premier educational and networking event for country radio and music industry professionals, providing attendees with access to informative panels, numerous networking opportunities, prominent speakers, research presentations, and intimate performances from some of today’s biggest stars and emerging artists. Panels at CRS covered a wide range of relevant topics in the country radio industry, including social media and digital innovations, brand strategies, leadership skills, consumer research studies, the relationships and economics of the radio and record industries, and much more.
CRS president RJ Curtis stated, “[CRS] is such a great networking opportunity. If you’re looking to expand your network and make contacts, this is the place to do it.”
And although radio will always be the core business for country music, they are now devoting an entire track of their conference to focus on all the aspects of digital music.
This year’s event was a success, with attendees enjoying a full day, including a Streaming Summit, insightful panels, “Power Hour” sessions, and mentoring breakfasts. They featured interviews with country music icons Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney. CRS anchor events such as the Amazon Music Presents: “Country Heat at CRS” showcase, Warner Music Nashville’s Luncheon, Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley, “Team UMG” at the Ryman, Big Machine Label Group’s Luncheon, and the much-anticipated Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottom Music Celebration. A “Paddle Royale” Ping Pong Tournament and the New Faces of Country Music Show and Dinner were also big hits.
To provide a scope of who attended and why, I did 34 interviews with artists at various places in their careers. Even with the significate number of performers I spoke with, it was only a small fraction of those who attended.
Allie Colleen, Becca Bowen, Ben Gallaher, Brett Kissel, Brooke Moriber, Chase Mitchell, Chris Clark, Colton James, Dallas Remington, Easton Corbin, Ian Flanigan
Jake Worthington, JD Shelburne, Josiah Siska, Juna N Joey, KC Johns, Kelly Lang, Makenzie Phipps, Mary Heather Hickman, MaRynn Taylor, McBride and the Ride, Paige King Johnson, Paulina Jane
Southbound 75, Southerland, T. Graham Brown, Taylor Holder, TG Sheppard, Thompson Square, Trinity Faith, Ty Herndon, Tyra Madison, Walker Montgomery, Whitney Miller
CRS will be back in 2024, taking place on Wednesday, February 28 through Friday, March 1. Registration for the event will open later this year.
People can follow Country Radio Seminar on their website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and Twitter.
