Author, strategist and 20-year media and entertainment vet David Houle to speak Feb. 22 at CRS 2012 in Nashville

(Nashville, Tenn. – Sept. 19, 2011) Award-winning futurist and author David Houle has been confirmed to deliver a special presentation at CRS 2012 at the Nashville Convention Center on Feb. 22.

Regarded as “the CEOs’ futurist,” Houle has spoken to nearly 2,000 CEOs and business owners on the subject of global trends and the transformative changes that impact the future.  A 20-year media and entertainment veteran, Houle was part of the senior executive team that launched MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1 and CNN Headline News prior to launching his career as an author and futurist speaker. He will address CRS attendees on the seminar’s opening day on Wednesday, Feb. 22. CRS 2012 is held Feb. 22-24, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn.

“The goal of the CRS 2012 Agenda Committee is to present sessions that educate as well as entertain, and this year we were really on a mission to provide some panels that might shake things up a bit,” says Agenda Committee member Andy Denemark.  “David Houle is exactly the kind of speaker who can provide our attendees with a wake up call about how life is evolving and in turn, how to do business in the 21st century. We’re all thrilled that he’ll be appearing on the opening day of CRS 2012.”

As a leading global futurist, Houle has spoken on five continents in the past year and delivered more than 350 speeches.  His books include “The Shift Age” (2008), “Shift Ed: A Call to Action for Transforming K-12 Education” (2011) and “The New Health Age: the Future of Health Care in America,” which will be published in fall 2011. He is a featured contributor on Oprah.com and writes his own blog at EvolutionShift.com.

Houle has won two Emmy awards as a co-executive producer for the nationally syndicated children’s program “Energy Express,” a George Foster Peabody award for the documentary film “Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream” and was also nominated for an Academy Award. For more information, visit www.DavidHoule.com.

CRS 2012 Early Bird registration is now available for a limited time for $399 at www.CountryRadioSeminar.com. CRS 2012 is held Feb. 22-24, 2012, at the Nashville Convention Center in downtown Nashville, Tenn.

About Country Radio Seminar:
Country Radio Seminar is an annual convention designed to educate and promote the exchange of ideas and business practices in the Country music industry, with specific emphasis on issues relevant to Country radio. CRS 2012 will be held Feb. 22-24, 2012, in downtown Nashville, Tenn., at the Nashville Convention Center. Visit www.CountryRadioSeminar.com for more information. Country Radio Seminar is a property of Country Radio Broadcasters.

MTV co-founder to kick off Country Radio Seminar with keynote address Wednesday, Feb. 22

(Nashville, Tenn. – July 25, 2011)  Country Radio Seminar has announced Clear Channel’s Chairman of Media and Entertainment Platforms and MTV co-founder Bob Pittman as the CRS 2012 keynote speaker.

Pittman was appointed Chairman of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Platforms in Nov. 2010, where he, alongside Clear Channel Radio’s CEO John Hogan and team, lead the development of a comprehensive, integrated digital strategy for Clear Channel in the radio business.  A 35-year entertainment industry veteran and founding member of New York-based private investment firm Pilot Group, LLC, he will deliver the keynote address to officially kick off Country Radio Seminar at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22.  CRS will be held Feb. 22-24, 2012, at the Nashville Convention Center in downtown Nashville, Tenn.

Pittman’s extensive background in radio and television includes CEO positions at AOL Networks, Quantum Media, Time Warner Enterprises and MTV Networks, where he led the team that created MTV.  He has also served as COO of America Online, Inc. and AOL Time Warner.  Among other recognition, Pittman was named one of Advertising Age’s “10 Marketers Who Changed American Culture” and “50 Pioneers and Visionaries of TV” and one of Life magazine’s “Five Original Thinkers of the ’80s” and “50 Most Influential Boomers.”

“Bob Pittman’s resume speaks for itself,” says CRS President Mike Culotta.  “His experience in radio, television and marketing will undoubtedly provide our CRS attendees with unique insight into the issues the Country radio industry is facing today.  We are once again anticipating another informative keynote address at Country Radio Seminar, and we encourage everyone to do themselves a favor and attend.”

Pittman began his career programming radio stations in Pittsburgh, Chicago and eventually WNBC in New York City.  In 1999, he was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame, and in 2002 he received the International Radio and Television Society’s Gold Medal.  He has also served as CEO of Six Flags Theme Parks and Century 21 Real Estate.

Past Country Radio Seminar keynote speakers have included Scripps Networks’ CEO Ken Lowe, money management expert Dave Ramsey, marketing guru Seth Godin, retired U.S. General Tommy Franks and recording artist Bon Jovi.

CRS 2012’s limited-time, $399 Early Bird registration is now available.  To register, visit www.CountryRadioSeminar.com.

About Country Radio Seminar:
Country Radio Seminar is an annual convention designed to educate and promote the exchange of ideas and business practices in the Country music industry, with specific emphasis on issues relevant to Country radio.  CRS 2012 will be held Feb. 22-24, 2012, in downtown Nashville, Tenn., at the Nashville Convention Center.  Visit www.CountryRadioSeminar.com for more information.  Country Radio Seminar is a property of Country Radio Broadcasters.

Chairman of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Platforms
Bob Pittman