Five core panel moderators have been announced for Country Radio Seminar 2017. The CRS 2017 core moderators are RJ Curtis (All Access), Gregg Lindahl (forty-year radio veteran), Bob Richards (Emmis Radio Indianapolis and WLHK/Indianapolis), Tom Baldrica (Midwest Communications), and Becky Brenner (Consulting Partner, Albright & O’Malley & Brenner Consulting).
Collectively, the core moderators will oversee and direct the bulk of the seminar’s educational panels, which will be held Feb. 22-24 inside the luxurious Omni Nashville.
This year welcomes Tom Baldrica and Becky Brenner to serve on the panel as well as returning moderators RJ Curtis, Gregg Lindahl, and Bob Richards from the previous year(s).
CRS Executive Director, Bill Mayne stated, “One of the best lessons we’ve learned was how crucial having moderators with a very special skill set can ‘make or destroy’ the best panel and audience interaction. Our Core Moderator program has eliminated 90% of the issues we endured for over 40 years! We are blessed by the efforts of these talented professionals and their major contributions!”
About the Moderators:
RJ Curtis launched his radio career fresh out of high school and spent 30 years in the business, 27 exclusive to Country radio and a combined 17 years in three decades at Country KZLA/Los Angeles. His tenure there included every aspect of on-air and programming including weekends, mornings, APD/MD, PD and OM. In 2007, RJ transitioned to Radio & Records as Country Editor before joining Arista Nashville’s promotion team in 2009 after R&R ceased publication. A desire to return to trade publications united him with Country Aircheck in 2011 where he served as VP/Country. He is currently the Nashville Editor of All Access.
Gregg Lindahl retired from a 40-year media career that began as a country music DJ at age 15, and ended as Senior Vice President for Digital and Strategy at Cox Media Group. Lindahl programmed country stations in Nashville and Oklahoma City, and he managed stations in Charlotte, Dallas, Portland and Chicago. He led a consumer market research company and an Internet start-up. Since retiring, he has become an inadvertent consultant to a handful of digital start-ups and is an angel investor.
Bob Richards has nearly 25 years of experience in radio. His career began in New Castle, Indiana at WMDH AM/FM as air talent/PD/Ops Manager from 1987 to 1996 and spent 14 years in Indianapolis at WFMS-FM (95.5) as air talent/PD/Ops Manager from 1995-2009. Since October of 2009, he has served as Ops Manager for Emmis Radio Indianapolis and PD of WLHK-FM. In addition, Richards owns Pinehurst Productions, a full service video production company.
Tom Baldrica worked as the first program director and air personality at K100/USA Radio from 1987-1993 before relocating from Minnesota to Georgia to join BNA Records as their Southeast Region Promotion Manager prior to becoming VP of National Promotion. In 2006, he joined Sony Music Nashville and was crucial in career development for major acts like Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, and more. His leadership opened doors for him at Average Joes Entertainment and Show Dog Universal before securing a position at Midwest Communications as Corporate Country Brand Strategist while hosting Minn. country radio stations.
Becky Brenner has over 39 years of experience in radio. She has held management, programming and on-air positions with Midwest Family, EZ Communications, ARS, Infinity and CBS. Her primary station for 26 years was 94.KMPS-FM (Seattle), the 2004 CMA and the 2010 ACM Major Market Station of the Year. She was also awarded the 2010 MIW Radio Group’s “Achievement in Programming” Award. Brenner was listed as one of the Top PD’s (of all formats) in America by Radio Ink Magazine and has been named Radio Ink’s No. 1 Country Programmer five times including recognition as one of this year’s “Most Influential Women in Radio”. She has served on the Country Radio Broadcasters Board of Directors for over 16 years (three years as President) and is a twelve-year member of the CMA Board of Directors.
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 2017 will be held Feb. 22-24, 2017. Visit at www.CountryRadioSeminar.com for more information. Like CRS on Facebook and follow CRS on Twitter (Hashtag #CRS2017). For further inquiries, contact publicity@aristomedia.com.
