Deadline to submit application is April 1

(Nashville, Tenn. – March 21, 2011) Following its recent success with CRS 2011, which saw a 22 percent increase in attendance, CRB, Inc.® is now accepting applications through April 1, 2011, for its 2011-2012 CRS Agenda Committee.

The CRS Agenda Committee is made up of volunteer professionals from all areas of the Country radio and record industries.  The committee is primarily responsible for planning events for the upcoming year’s Country Radio Seminar.  Prospective applicants must be available to attend agenda meetings in Nashville on June 23-24, 2011.  Applicants are also expected to attend panels and meetings at CRS 2012, held Feb. 22-24, 2012.

Visit www.CRB.org to download the Agenda Committee application and fax or email the completed form by April 1 to Sheree Latham at (615) 329-4492 or Sheree@CRB.org.

About CRS:
The Country Radio Seminar is an annual convention designed to educate and promote the exchange of ideas in the country music industry.  Country Radio Seminar is a registered trademark of Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.  CRS 2012 will be held Feb. 22-24, 2012, in downtown Nashville, Tenn.

About CRB:
The Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. ® is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization founded in 1969 to bring radio broadcasters from around the world together with the Country Music Industry to ensure vitality and promote growth in the Country Radio format.  More information may be obtained at: www.CRB.org or at the CRB office at 615-327-4487.

View the complete study at CRB.org, ColemanInsights.com

(Nashville, Tenn. – March 9, 2011)  The complete results of the Country radio P1 research study presented at CRS 2011 are now available online at CRB.org and ColemanInsights.com.

Sponsored by Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. and the Country Music Association, the in-depth study polled 5,000 12- to 64-year-old P1 Country radio listeners about their music consumption habits, new media usage and the overall state of Country Music.  A parallel study, which polled music and radio executives, was also conducted to gauge industry perceptions versus those of the consumer.

North Carolina-based media research firm Coleman Insights conducted the research.  Results were trended against the last CRB-commissioned Country radio P1 study, presented at CRS in 2007.

The 2011 study suggests that consumers perceive the overall health and appeal of Country Music as significantly more positive than industry professionals do.  Eighty-three percent of Country P1s perceive that they are “listening more” to Country radio today than one year ago, with 51 percent suggesting the reason why is because “Country Music is better” now.

New media usage among Country radio consumers appears to be growing at a comparable rate to the rest of the population.  Seventy-five percent of Country radio P1s own an Internet-connected PC or Mac computer, two-thirds own a game console, half own an iPod or mp3 player and nearly 50 percent own a smartphone device.

Additionally, radio is still the medium that makes consumers feel “most connected” to Country Music and remains the most consistent means of new music discovery for them.  However, more than one-third of P1s have used new music discovery service, Pandora, and indicate that they are “likely” to use it in an automobile if available.

“We are pleased to present the complete findings of our 2011 Country radio listener P1 study to the public,” says Coleman Insights CEO Warren Kurtzman.  “We hope that the data collected from more than 5,000 core listeners helps the Country radio industry continue in its growth and encourages it to explore new opportunities, particularly in the new media marketplace.  Country radio remains healthy today, and its future looks bright.”

Adds CRB Executive Director Bill Mayne, “The results of this year’s study marks a positive step in our understanding of the Country radio consumer.  It also provides a wealth of information that we can use going forward to strengthen our relationships between Country radio and our listeners.”

(Nashville, Tenn. – March 8, 2011) Digital Rodeo closed out Country Radio Seminar 2011 with a themed “British Invasion” show, held Friday, March 4, at downtown Nashville venue Cadillac Ranch.  More than a dozen Country artists were on hand to cover songs of their choice from the “British Invasion” era of the ’60s.

Performers included: Katie Armiger, Burns and Poe, Sarah Darling, Due West, Ashley Gearing, The Harters, Jacob Lyda, One Night Rodeo, Julie Roberts, Adam Tefteller, Tiffany, Bryan White.

About DigitalRodeo.com:
DigitalRodeo.com is the premier country news, music and lifestyle site for country music fans everywhere.  Community membership is free and offers fans and artists alike the opportunity to connect with each other, upload and download audio and video, watch exclusive DigitalRodeo.com content and stay updated on what’s happening in the world of country music.  For more information, visit www.DigitalRodeo.com.

Digital Rodeo Director of Marketing and Promotions, John Pyne, poses with artists following the Digital Rodeo “British Invasion” show, which officially closed out CRS 2011 at Cadillac Ranch. Pictured l to r: Ashley Gearing, Pyne, Tiffany and Sarah Darling. Photo: Bev Moser.

(Nashville, Tenn. – March 7, 2011)  Country Radio Seminar 2011, held March 2-4 at the Nashville Convention Center, was packed from morning to night with educational panels, speakers, luncheons, research presentations, performances and endless networking opportunities.  Here are a few selected photos of CRS 2011 highlights.

On Wednesday, March 2, Arista Nashville recording artist Carrie Underwood helped officially kick off CRS 2011 with a performance of the national anthem immediately prior to the seminar’s keynote address, delivered by Scripps Networks CEO Ken Lowe. Pictured l to r: CRB Executive Director Bill Mayne, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, Underwood, Lowe and CRB President Mike Culotta. Photo: Bev Moser.

Lionel Richie made a surprise appearance at Universal Music Group Nashville’s CRS 2011 luncheon at the Ryman Auditorium on Wednesday, March 2.  The Pop and R&B superstar stopped in at the CRS Connections Lounge after his performance.  Pictured l to r: UMG’s Katie Dean, CRB Agenda Committee member John Paul, Clear Channel/Milwaukee’s Kerry Wolfe, Richie, CRB Board member Keith Kaufman, UMG Sr VP/Promotion and CRB Board member Royce Risser and UMG’s Ken Robold. Photo: Bev Moser.

Warner Music Nashville artist Blake Shelton was this year’s headlining act at the ACM and Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40-sponsored CRS 2011 Music City Jam, held on Wednesday, March 2.  Shelton’s musical guests during the show included Frankie Ballard, The Band Perry (ACM Top New Vocal Duo or Group Award winners), Luke Bryan, Laura Bell Bundy, Brett Eldredge and Chris Young. Pictured l to r: The Band Perry, Shelton, Eric Church (ACM Top New Solo Vocalist Award winner) , Luke Bryan and Academy of Country Music CEO Bob Romeo. Photo: Bev Moser.

The CRB and CMA co-sponsored the CRS 2011 Country Radio research study, conducted by media research firm Coleman Insights.  The results were presented during the CRS research panel on Thursday, March 3, at the Nashville Convention Center.  Pictured l to r: CMA Market Research Director Greg Fuson, CRB President Mike Culotta, Coleman Insights VP Sam Milkman, CMA VP/Strategic Partnerships Sherri Warnke, Coleman Insights President/CEO Warren Kurtzman, Coleman Insights VP Chris Ackerman and CRB Executive Director Bill Mayne. Photo: Bev Moser.

The annual New Faces of Country Music Show, co-sponsored by MDA and Country Aircheck, closed out CRS 2011 on Friday night, March 4, at the Nashville Convention Center.  This year’s performers were: The Band Perry, Lee Brice, Jerrod Niemann, Steel Magnolia and Josh Thompson. Pictured l to r: CRB Executive Director Bill Mayne, Country Aircheck’s Lon Helton, Reid Perry, Josh Thompson, Kimberly Perry, Neil Perry, Lee Brice, MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Abbey Umali, Steel Magnolia’s Meghan Linsey, Jerrod Niemann, Steel Magnolia’s Joshua Scott Jones and CRB President Mike Culotta. Photo: Bev Moser.

New CRB Officers, Board Members Announced

(Nashville, Tenn. – March 7, 2011)  Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.® has announced an overall attendance figure of 2,649 registrants at CRS 2011, resulting in a 22 percent increase over last year’s event.

The total number of CRS 2011 attendees was divided into 2,004 full registrants (attendees, exhibitors, panelists and sponsors) and 645 participant registrants.  Participant registrants are attendees that register for individual CRS events or purchase single day seminar passes.  Total attendance for CRS 2010 was 2,181 and CRS 2009 was 2,106.

“I think this year’s attendance numbers speak directly to the success of Country Radio Seminar 2011,” says CRB Executive Director Bill Mayne.  “Since 2009, our attendance has shown a 25 percent growth, which is extremely encouraging, particularly in a struggling economy.  Our Country Radio Hall of Fame event and our New Faces show both sold out, and our panelists, speakers and talent continue to set a high standard of excellence in the Country radio industry.  We’re excited about the momentum CRS has provided for the rest of 2011 and into next year’s seminar.”

Changes to the CRS Agenda Committee and CRB Board of Directors have been announced.  The newly elected CRB Board officers and CRS Agenda Committee leaders are as follows:

CRB President: Mike Culotta (WQYK / Tampa, Fla.)
CRB Vice President: R.J. Curtis (Country Aircheck / Nashville, Tenn.)
CRB Secretary: Carole Bowen (WKIS / Miami, Fla.)
CRB Treasurer: Jeff Walker (AristoMedia/Marco Promotions / Nashville, Tenn.)
CRS 2012 Agenda Chair: Annie Sandor (Curb Records / Miami, Fla.)
CRS 2012 Vice Chair: Clint Marsh (Talking Stick Communications / Warsaw, Ind.)

“The energy at CRS this year was off the charts!” says CRS 2012 Agenda Chair, Annie Sandor. “Everyone I talked to could really feel it as well.  You saw it in the panels, the live performances and the conversations between friends.  It’s such an awesome feeling to be a part of an amazing event like Country Radio Seminar.  We’re ready to roll up our sleeves and start planning for CRS 2012 already!”

Three members who were previously appointed by the CRB President have been elected back to the CRB Board of Directors.  Clarence Spalding (Spalding Entertainment / Nashville, Tenn.) and Johnny Chiang (KKBQ / Houston, Texas) were elected to 3-year terms, and Dan Halyburton (McVay New Media / Palo Alto, Calif.) was elected to a one-year term.

Other CRB Board members re-elected for three-year terms include: Carole Bowen, R.J. Curtis, David Haley, Clay Hunnicutt, Royce Risser, Tim Roberts and Jeff Walker.

Skip Bishop (Sony Music Nashville / Nashville, Tenn.) was elected to fill a one-year term.

Newly re-elected CRB President Mike Culotta also appointed three new CRB Board members: John Esposito (Warner Bros. / Nashville, Tenn.), Brian O’Connell (Live Nation / Nashville, Tenn.) and Jerry Phillips (Big River Broadcasting / Florence, Ala.).

Continuing their terms on the CRB Board are: Jim Asker, Tom Baldrica, Becky Brenner, Joel Burke, Natalie Conner, John Crenshaw, Mike Dungan, Keith Kaufman, Renee Leymon, Mike McVay, Charlie Morgan, Joel Raab, Denise Roberts, John Shomby, John Zarling and Director Emeritus Charlie Monk.

“CRS 2011 was a tremendous success for our Board, our attendees and the Country radio industry,” says CRB President Mike Culotta.  “From the insightful Country radio research presentation, to our CRS smartphone applications, to the new Connections Lounge, this year’s seminar integrated a lot of new ideas to ensure Country Radio Seminar remains innovative and relevant as we move forward towards next year’s CRS 2012.”

CRS 2012 will be held Feb. 22-24, 2012, at the Nashville Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.  Visit www.CRB.org for more information about Country Radio Seminar and the Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.

To view an online photo gallery of events and panels from CRS 2011, visit: www.flickr.com/AristoPR

About CRS:
The Country Radio Seminar is an annual convention designed to educate and promote the exchange of ideas in the country music industry.  Country Radio Seminar is a registered trademark of Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.  CRS 2012 will be held Feb. 22-24, 2012, in downtown Nashville, Tenn.

About CRB:
The Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. ® is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization founded in 1969 to bring radio broadcasters from around the world together with the Country Music Industry to ensure vitality and promote growth in the Country Radio format.  More information may be obtained at: www.CRB.org or at the CRB office at 615-327-4487.

Country Radio still king for consumers, new music discovery

(Nashville, Tenn. – March 3, 2011)  The results of the CRB Country radio research study presented today at CRS 2011 provided a wealth of encouraging news for Country radio and the Country Music industry.

The comprehensive study, sponsored through a partnership between Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. and the Country Music Association, polled 5,000 P1 Country radio listeners about their consumption habits and the state of Country Music in general.  Nearly 200 industry professionals were also polled to gauge their insight and perceptions about the Country format versus those of the consumer.

The “big picture” findings from the study, conducted by North Carolina-based media research firm Coleman Insights, concluded that consumers perceive the overall state of Country Music as significantly more positive than professionals in the industry do.  Additionally, radio is the medium which makes consumers feel “most connected” to Country Music and remains the most consistent means of new music discovery for them.  New media usage in Country Music continues to increase among all age demographics, showing growth patterns consistent with those in other formats.  Complete findings from the study will be available at CRB.org and ColemanInsights.com on Wednesday, March 9, at 10 a.m. CST.

“I was extremely excited about the research data presented at CRS this year,” says CRB Board member and Chair of the CMA Research Committee, Rusty Walker.  “As a result of the study’s innovative approach and its thorough questionnaire process, the findings by Coleman Insights will help all facets of the Country Music industry in better serving its customers, listeners and fans.”

The 2011 study surveyed a sample of 12- to 64-year-old P1 Country radio listeners across the U.S. and their usage of new media devices, including social media websites, smartphone applications and radio station and artist websites.  Data was trended against the findings from the last national Country radio P1 study presented at CRS, conducted in 2007.  Participants in this year’s study were polled between Feb. 7-18, 2011, via email and online questionnaires.

“This year’s study confirmed that the overall perception of Country Music by its core consumers was extremely positive, and the general health of Country radio is still strong,” says Coleman Insights President and COO Warren Kurtzman.  “Listeners are continuing to find new means of consuming Country Music through emerging technologies, but this study seems to indicate they are not undermining Country radio’s connection with its listeners.”

Findings from the study were presented March 3 at the CRB research panel during CRS 2011.  Coleman Insights VPs Chris Ackerman and Sam Milkman presented the data, and CMA Market Research Director Greg Fuson announced the study as a piece of CMA’s continuing research to help identify and define the Country Music consumer.

For more information about the 2011 CRB Country Radio P1 listener research study, visit www.CRB.org or www.ColemanInsights.com

(Nashville, Tenn. – March 3, 2011)  On the opening day of CRS 2011, Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.® handed out its Artist, Radio and Tom Rivers Humanitarian Awards during a special ceremony inside the Nashville Convention Center.

The 2011 CRB Artist Humanitarian Award was presented to Tim McGraw and Faith Hill for their ongoing efforts to aid those affected by the Nashville floods in 2010.  The couple was particularly instrumental in organizing the star-studded Nashville Rising flood relief concert at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena in June 2010.  Last year’s winner, Trace Adkins, presented the award to Hill and McGraw.

The 2011 CRB Radio Humanitarian Award winners were KWJJ/Portland, Ore. (Large Market), WIVK/Knoxville, Tenn. (Medium Market) and WCTY/Norwich, Conn. (Small Market). CRB President Mike Culotta and RadioInk’s Lois Choolijan presented the awards.

Large Market Winner: 99.5 KWJJ/Portland, Ore. -
KWJJ’s community efforts in 2010 included its annual sponsorship of the Portland Rose Festival, St. Paul Rodeo, July 4^th Celebration Parade, Portland Police Department Celebrity Golf Tournament, Annual Bite of Oregon, Canned Food Drives and its various efforts to support Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

Medium Market Winner: 107.7 WIVK/Knoxville, Tenn. -
WIVK’s humanitarian initiatives have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for organizations in the Knoxville area, including The Love Kitchen, Red Cross March for the Military, The United Way, Children’s Hospital, Coats for the Cold and the city’s annual Christmas parade.  WIVK and its listeners were among those who generously donated their resources to the Nashville flood victims in 2010.

Small Market Winner: 97.7 WCTY/Norwich, Conn.
WCTY raises funds each year for The United Way, Wounded Warrior Project, MADD, the Women’s Center of S.E. Connecticut and the Plainfield Rotary Foundation, among others.  In 2010, WCTY collected more than 30,000 pounds of food with its Big Y Food Drive in Eastern Connecticut.

The 2011 Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award was presented to NRG Media President and CEO, Mary Quass.  NRG Media owns and operates 45 radio stations in Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Illinois.  Quass has been recognized by Radio Ink Magazine as one of the 40 Most Powerful People in Radio for six consecutive years and was listed as the No. 1 Most Influential Women in Radio in 2007.  Her community efforts are exemplified through her various office and board appointments with organizations including: the National Association of Broadcasters, United Fire and Casualty Company, Bayliss Media Foundation, All Saints Parish Foundation, Entrepreneurial Development Center, United Way Board of Trustees and Mercy Medical Center, among others.  CRB Board member/WYCD PD Tim Roberts presented Quass with the award.

About the CRB Artist Humanitarian Award:
The CRB Artist Humanitarian Award was created in 1990 to honor those Country music artists who have exhibited exceptional humanitarian efforts during their career.  Past recipients of the annual award have included Trace Adkins, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks, Charlie Daniels and Kenny Rogers, among others.

About the CRB Radio Humanitarian Awards:
The CRB Radio Humanitarian Awards are presented to full-time Country radio stations for notable public service initiatives that improve the quality of life for the communities they serve.  The annual awards are presented to stations in three categories: Large (markets 1-50), Medium (markets 51-130), and Small (markets 131+).

About the Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award:
The Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award is given at the discretion of the Country Radio Broadcasters Board of Directors to recognize an individual in the Country Radio industry who has displayed a magnanimous spirit of caring and generosity in service to their community.  This award is named in honor of CRB Board member Tom Rivers, who died in 2004 at age 38 of bronchial asthma.  Rivers, known for his work at WQYK, Tampa/St. Petersburg and WUSN, Chicago, was highly regarded for his public service.

(Nashville, Tenn. – March 2, 2011) The 2011 class of the Country Radio Hall of Fame was officially inducted last night, March 1, at a sold-out ceremony and dinner held inside the Nashville Convention Center.

Dale Carter, Barry Kent and Lee Rogers were inducted in the On-Air Personality category, while Charlie Cook, Dene Hallam (posthumous) and Bill Payne were the three Radio inductees.  Other awards presented during the ceremony included the CRB Career Achievement Award, given to The Judds, and the CRB President’s Award, presented to Joe Galante.

The Country Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremonies unofficially kick off Country Radio Seminar each year.  CRS 2011 is held March 2-4 in Nashville, Tenn.  For more information, visit www.CRB.org.

The 2011 class of the Country Radio Hall of Fame, President’s Award winner and Career Achievement Award winners.  Top row L to R: Bill Payne, Charlie Cook, Joe Galante (President’s Award), Naomi Judd of The Judds (Career Achievement Award), Barry Kent, Dale Carter, Lee Rogers.  Bottom row, L to R: Country Aircheck’s R.J. Curtis, the three daughters of Dene Hallam, CRB President Mike Culotta and CRB Executive Director Bill Mayne.  Not pictured: Wynonna Judd.  Photo: Bev Moser.

(Nashville, Tenn. – March 1, 2011)  Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. has announced its 2011 Radio Promotion Award winners.  Given out each year at Country Radio Seminar, the awards are presented to stations in the Large, Medium and Small Market categories.

Large Market Winner: KUPL / Portland, Ore.
KUPL’s “Free Money Friday” paired two of the station’s advertising clients to create a successful cross-promotion.  Customers who picked up KUPL bumper stickers at one client location would receive a text message directing them to the second client’s promotion and location, where customers could win up to $500.  The promotion generated increased sales for the clients and doubled the radio station’s texting database.

Medium Market Winner: WQMX / Akron, Ohio
WQMX utilized the power of social networking to conduct its “Zac Brown Look-A-Like Contest” in the summer of 2010.  Listeners submitted photos through the station’s Facebook page for a chance to win front row seats and a backstage “eat and greet” with the Zac Brown Band.

Small Market Winner: KZPK / St. Cloud, Minn.
In 2010, KZPK staged its biggest benefit concert ever during Central Minnesota’s summer FireFest event.  The show featured performances from Little Big Town, Emerson Drive and Bomshel, raising more than $50,000 for the city of Cold Spring’s Fire and Rescue Relief Association.

The Radio Promotion Awards will be presented during the “90 Executable Ideas in 50 Minutes” panel on Thursday, March 3, inside the Nashville Convention Center.

Stations are judged on the creativity and implementation of their promotions, held from Nov. 1, 2009 – Dec. 31, 2010.  Winners are evaluated on promotion objective, presentation style, effect on cume and overall success of the promotion.

Radio Promotion Award winners receive a free trip to Country Radio Seminar, including airfare (up to $500 of actual cost), hotel accommodations and registration fees.

About CRB:
Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. ® is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization founded in 1969 to bring radio broadcasters from around the world together with the Country Music Industry to ensure vitality and promote growth in the Country Radio format.  More information may be obtained at: www.CRB.org or at the CRB office at (615) 327-4487.

About CRS:
The Country Radio Seminar is an annual convention designed to educate and promote the exchange of ideas in the Country music industry.  Country Radio Seminar is a registered trademark of Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.  CRS 2011 is held March 2-4, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn.  $499 On-Site registration (excluding a ticket to the sold out New Faces Show) is available at www.CRB.org or by contacting the Country Radio Broadcasters at (615) 327-4487.

Country Radio Seminar 2011 is March 2-4 at the Nashville Convention Center