Excitement Filled Event Featured Industry Reunions,
Musical Performances, Panels, Sessions, and More
Announces Dates for CRS 2023 – To be held March 13-15, 2023
(Nashville, Tenn. – Feb. 28, 2022) After hosting a successful virtual event in 2021, Country Radio Seminar (CRS) returned as a live, in-person event in 2022, held Wednesday, Feb. 23 through Friday, Feb. 25.
Some of this year’s event highlights include a full-day Streaming Summit, eighteen informative panels, six “CRS Heads of State” sessions, four mentoring breakfasts, three label-sponsored luncheons, and a featured artist interview with Blake Shelton. Popular anchor events at CRS returned, 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, New Faces of Country Music Show and Dinner, and the 2nd annual “Paddle Royale” Ping Pong Tournament.
CRS is the premier educational and networking event for Country radio and music industry professionals, offering attendees access to informative panels, countless networking opportunities, prominent speakers, research presentations, and intimate performances from some of today’s biggest stars and emerging artists. Panels at CRS cover a broad range of topics relevant to today’s 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. Country radio’s biggest event of the year will return in 2023 and is set for March 13 – 15, 2023. Registration for next year’s event will open later this year.
Some of this year’s event highlights can be seen below.
The CRS 2022 New Faces of Country Music® Show closed out the 3-day event, with performances by (L to R) Parker McCollum, Lainey Wilson, Jameson Rodgers, Gabby Barrett, and Walker Hayes. The show was co-sponsored by the Academy of Country Music and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Photo Courtesy of CRB/CRS/Kayla Schoen Photography | Download Here
Pictured above: Award-winning country superstar, Blake Shelton, appeared as the featured artist for “The Artist Interview,” sponsored by BMI, during CRS 2022. Shelton sat down with Country Aircheck Publisher/CEO and host of Westwood One’s CountryCountdown USA, Lon Helton, and spoke candidly on his epic career, artistic process, and what’s on the horizon. Photo Courtesy of CRB/CRS/Kayla Schoen Photography | Download Here
Pictured above L to R: Blake Shelton with Country Aircheck Publisher/CEO and host of Westwood One’s Country Countdown USA, Lon Helton during “The Artist Interview,” sponsored by BMI, at CRS 2022, Photo Courtesy of CRB/CRS/Kayla Schoen Photography | Download Here
Pictured above: Hit songwriters, artists, and CRS 2022 attendees came together for “Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley.” Hosted by Fitz of Country Top 40 with Fitz, the evening featured a lengthy list of songwriters telling their stories and performing some of County music’s biggest hits. The event was sponsored by Country Top 40 with Fitz, Skyview Networks, and First Horizon Bank, and the bar was sponsored by ASCAP. Pictured above L to R: Rhett Akins, Neil Thrasher, and Victoria Shaw. Photo Courtesy of CRB/CRS/Kayla Schoen Photography | Download Here
Pictured above: Rhett Akins performs during “Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley” at CRS 2022. Hosted by Fitz of Country Top 40 with Fitz, the evening featured a lengthy list of songwriters telling their stories and performing some of County music’s biggest hits. The event was sponsored by Country Top 40 with Fitz, Skyview Networks, and First Horizon Bank, and the bar was sponsored by ASCAP. Photo Courtesy of CRB/CRS/Kayla Schoen Photography | Download Here
Pictured above: The 5th annual “Amazon Music Presents: Country Heat at CRS” showcase was held on Feb. 23 during CRS 2022, and was headlined by Thomas Rhett and featured performances by Frank Ray, Lily Rose, Conner Smith, and Morgan Wade. Pictured above L to R: CRB/CRS Executive Director RJ Curtis, Thomas Rhett, Conner Smith, Frank Ray, Morgan Wade, and the Head of Country Music at Amazon Music, Michelle Kammerer. (Not Pictured: Lily Rose) / Photo Courtesy of CRB/CRS/Kayla Schoen Photography | Download Here
Conner Smith performs at
“Amazon Music Presents: Country Heat at CRS”
Photo Courtesy of CRB/CRS/Hunter Berry
Frank Ray performs at
“Amazon Music Presents: Country Heat at CRS”
Photo Courtesy of CRB/CRS/Hunter Berry
Lily Rose performs at
“Amazon Music Presents: Country Heat at CRS”
Photo Courtesy of CRB/CRS/Hunter Berry
Morgan Wade performs at
“Amazon Music Presents: Country Heat at CRS”
Photo Courtesy of CRB/CRS/Hunter Berry
Pictured above: Thomas Rhett headlines the 5th annual “Amazon Music Presents: Country Heat at CRS” during CRS 2022. Photo Courtesy of CRB/CRS/Hunter Berry Photography | Download Here
Pictured above: Multi-Platinum entertainer Jason Aldean was awarded the Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) 2022 Artist Humanitarian Award during CRS Honors at CRS 2022. Pictured above L to R: CRB/CRS Executive Director, RJ Curtis, Jason Aldean, and CRB/CRS Board President, Kurt Johnson. Photo Courtesy of CRB/CRS/Kayla Schoen Photography | Download Here
Jason Aldean revealed the Country Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2022 inductees, who will be honored during the annual Country Radio Hall of Fame Ceremony on June 30, 2022, at the Virgin Hotel. This year’s list includes two off-air radio broadcasters and four on-air radio personalities. The off-air honorees are Becky Brenner and Barry Mardit. The on-air honorees are Whitney Allen, Debbie Conner, Cathy Martindale, and Rachael & Grunwald. Download Here
Pictured above: Zac Brown Band headlined the 4thannual Warner Music luncheon, held on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at CRS 2022. Photo Courtesy of CRB/CRS/Kayla Schoen Photography | Download Here
Pictured above: The 4th annual Warner Music Nashville Luncheon at CRS 2022 featured headliner Zac Brown Band and performances by Ingrid Andress, BRELAND, Jessie James Decker, Morgan Evans, Chris Janson, Cody Johnson, Randall King, Drew Parker, and Michael Ray. Pictured above Back Row L to R: John Driskell Hopkins, Matt Mangano, Clay Cook, and Jimmy De Martini. Pictured Middle Row L to R: Chris Janson, Cody Johnson, Drew Parker, Randall King, and Morgan Evans. Pictured Front Row L to R: Zac Brown, Ingrid Andres, Breland, Jessie James Decker, and Michael Ray. Photo Courtesy of CRB/CRS/Kayla Schoen Photography | Download Here
Pictured below: CRS launched “CRS Heads Of State,” which occurred during CRS 2022. The series featured a mix of the industry’s most prominent leaders and highest-profile CEOs, including Caroline Beasley (CEO/Beasley), Ginny Morris (CEO/Hubbard), David Field (Chairman and CEO/Audacy), Bob Proffitt (CEO/Alpha Media), and Bill Wilson (CEO/Townsquare) representing radio; Scott Borchetta (President/CEO, BMLG), Mike Dungan (Chairman/CEO, UMG), John Esposito (Chairman/CEO, WMN), Randy Goodman (Chairman/CEO, Sony), and Jon Loba (President, BMG) representing record label; and Joel Denver (All Access Media Group), Erica Farber (RAB), Lon Helton (Country Aircheck/Country Countdown USA), Sarah Trahern (CEO/CMA), and Mike McVay (McVay Media) serving as moderators. The “CRS Heads Of State Series” ushered attendees into the corner office of the biggest radio and label companies for daily exclusive, one-on-one conversations. Photos Courtesy of CRB/CRS/Kayla Schoen Photography
Pictured above: John Esposito, Mike McVay, and Bill Wilson gather ahead of their “CRS Heads Of State” appearance during CRS 2022. Download Here
Pictured above: Bob Proffitt, Jon Loba, and Lon Helton during “CRS Heads of State” at CRS 2022. Download Here
Pictured above: Ginny Morris (CEO/Hubbard), Scott Borchetta (President/CEO, BMLG), and Erica Farber (RAB) during “CRS Heads of State” at CRS 2022. Download Here
Pictured above: RJ Curtis (CRB/CRS Executive Director), David Field (Chairman and CEO/Audacy), Sarah Trahern (CEO/CMA), Randy Goodman (Chairman/CEO, Sony), and Kurt Johnson (SVP/Townsquare Media & CRB/CRS Board President) gather ahead of “CRS Heads of State” which was held on Friday, Feb. 25 during CRS 2022. Download Here
Pictured above: Mike Dungan (Chairman/CEO, UMG), Caroline Beasley (CEO/Beasley), and Mike McVay (Chairman/CEO) gather ahead of their “CRS Heads Of State” appearance during CRS 2022. Download Here
The CRS Big Machine Label Group luncheon featured performances by Lady A, Carly Pearce, Riley Green, Callista Clark, Laci Kaye Booth, Jackson Dean, and Tiera Kennedy. Pictured here L to R: Front Row: Lady A’s Charles Kelly, Jimmy Harnen (President and CEO, Big Machine Records), Lady A’s Hillary Scott, Scott Borchetta (President/CEO, BMLG), Carly Pearce, Kurt Johnson (SVP/Townsquare Media & CRB/CRS Board President); Middle Row: George Briner (President/The Valory Music Co.), Lady A’s Dave Haywood, Callista Clark, Riley Green, Clay Hunnicutt (General Manager, Big Machine Records); Back Row: Conner Smith, Tiera Kennedy, Laci Kaye Booth, Jackson Dean.
Photo Courtesy of CRB/CRS/Kayla Schoen Photography | Download Here
Pictured above: The 2nd annual “Paddle Royale” Ping Pong Tournament, sponsored by PickleJar, was held during CRS 2022. Lady A’s Dave Haywood took home the opulent, borderline obnoxious championship belt. This year’s players included Ingrid Andress, Kid Rock, Jon Pardi, Morgan Evans, Lady A, Gator Harrison, Clay Hunnicutt, Mitchell Tenpenny, Clay Walker, Royce Risser, Tim Roberts, Scotty McCreery, and more. Pictured above L to R: Defending champion Scotty McCre
