(Nashville, Tennessee – Nov. 7, 2024) – The CRB/CRS Board of Directors has approved two significant updates to the eligibility and selection criteria for the annual New Faces of Country Music® Show, marking a pivotal step forward in recognizing how country music’s reach is evolving in today’s digital landscape.
The first change introduces the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart as a qualifying measure for New Faces eligibility, joining the existing Mediabase Country Chart (published in Country Aircheck). For the first time, this expanded chart criterion will incorporate digital sales and streaming data alongside traditional radio airplay, offering a more comprehensive view of music performance metrics.
RJ Curtis, CRB Executive Director, commented on the change, “The revised New Faces Show chart criteria more broadly reflects how our music is being exposed and consumed in 2024, and how its performance is measured. While radio airplay continues to be the critically important calculation for artist success, digital sales and streaming data are also important, accurate factors in identifying the rising New Faces and voices in country music.”
The second update entrusts record labels and artist representatives with the responsibility of determining artist eligibility and managing the submission process. Representatives will now confirm that artists meet the minimum criteria, submit their names for ballot inclusion, and verify artist availability and willingness to perform if selected. This shift enables an increased level of industry involvement and accountability, ensuring the artists chosen reflect both the current and future landscape of country music.
These new criteria are in effect for the November 1, 2024, through October 27, 2025 qualification period, impacting the New Faces Show lineup for CRS 2026.
The CRS Board of Directors has outlined the updated qualification and voter criteria on the New Faces page at countryradioseminar.com.
The criteria now reads:
- Qualification Period: November 1 through October 31, preceding the New Faces Show.
- Performance History: Artists must have at least one but no more than five Top 25 singles on the Mediabase Country Chart (Country Aircheck) or the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart during the qualification period.
- Voter Eligibility: Voters must be full-time employees in programming, promotion, or distribution of country music, excluding those with vested interests in individual artists.
To ensure a transparent and fair selection process, the ballot will consist of all qualifying artists submitted by their representatives, with acts listed in alphabetical order. Ballots will be reported to and approved by the Country Radio Broadcasters Executive Committee before final selections are made.
For further information and to view the updated criteria, please visit countryradioseminar.com.
About Country Radio Seminar (CRS): Country Radio Seminar (CRS) is an annual event that brings together professionals from across the country music and radio industries to share ideas, collaborate, and celebrate achievements. CRS 2025 will be held at the Omni Nashville Hotel from February 19 to February 21, 2025, featuring panels, presentations, and special events designed to educate and inspire.
About Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc ®: Established in 1969, Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc ® is a 501 © 3 non-profit organization that serves as a unifying force, connecting radio broadcasters worldwide with the dynamic Country Music Industry. Our mission is to ensure its vitality and foster growth within the industry.
