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CRS 2013 Kicks Off Tomorrow
2-25-2013
CRS 2013 includes more than 20 panels, exhibits and educational presentations, as well as featured speakers and panelists from all areas of the radio and records industry. “This year’s attendees will notice a lot of changes,” said CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne. “Our goal has always been to provide a forum for industry professionals on both the educational and networking level. We feel we have accomplished this in many different ways.”
Throughout the seminar, an effort is being made to help raise awareness about important health issues. Country Radio Seminar is offering for the first time free heart test, courtesy of Cleveland HeartLab. Inflammation Testing (“IT”) will be available for the first 500 CRS attendees who visit the Cleveland HeartLab Screening Suite, located inside the Nashville Convention Center. The IT blood test (no fasting required) provides more in-depth information about heart health beyond normal cholesterol testing. The Screening Suite will be open daily at CRS from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., or until 500 tests have been administered.
Agenda highlights for CRS 2013 are:
Tuesday, Feb. 26:
The Country Radio Hall of Fame Dinner and Awards ceremony will unofficially kick off the seminar. This year’s inductees are: Gaylon Christie as the Radio category inductee, and Dr. Don Carpenter, Crook & Chase, Eddie Edwards and Bill “Dex” Poindexter are the On-Air category inductees. Academy of Country Music CEO, Bob Romeo, will receive the CRS President’s Award and George Strait will receive the CRB Career Achievement Award. A limited number of tickets are still available for the Hall of Fame Dinner. The official Hall of Fame After Party, featuring Katie Armiger and Craig Campbell, will take place after the awards ceremony in the Renaissance Hotel Music City Ballroom.
Wednesday, Feb. 27:
Capitol Record’s Little Big Town will kick off the seminar with a performance of the national anthem at the opening ceremonies, followed by the keynote address, delivered by Jeff Smulyan, CEO of Emmis Communications Corporation. Presentation of the Artist and Radio Humanitarian Awards will follow the keynote address. Big & Rich is this year’s Artist Humanitarian Award recipient.
Wednesday’s educational events include two research presentations; one entitled, “Music On The Move: Inside the Drive Towards Mobile Music Consumption,” presented by The Country Music Association and a second one developed by Edison Research and commissioned by CRS.
The “Team UMG at the Ryman” luncheon will feature artists from the Universal Music Group roster. Artists set to perform include Billy Currington, Brothers Osborne, Chris Stapleton, Darius Rucker, David Nail, Dierks Bentley, Drake White, Eric Church, Eric Paslay, Josh Turner, Kacey Musgraves, Kelleigh Bannen, Lady Antebellum, Lauren Alaina, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Mickey Guyton, Randy Montana, Scotty McCreery and Vince Gill.
Later that afternoon, songwriters The Warren Brothers (Brad and Brett) and Thomas Rhett will co-headline WCRS Live!. The CRS Artist/Attendee Welcome Reception will follow and give attendees a chance to meet n’ greet with participating artists.
That night, the “Grand Ole Opry at CRS” show will include appearances by Grand Ole Opry members Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker and Vince Gill along with Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch, Scotty McCreery, Kacey Musgraves, Josh Turner and Greg Bates.
Thursday, Feb. 28:
Thursday’s panel highlights are Matt Sunshine’s “Brainstorming and Marketing Strategy Model,” “Special PPM Reporting on the Country Radio Audience,” “Tips and Tricks From Other Formats,” A CMA Marketing Break Out Panel and “Younger Country – Is 18-34 the new 25-54.” In addition, the highly anticipated “Country Comes To New York” panel, featuring Cumulus CEO, Lew Dickey will take place.
MCA’s Gary Allan will headline the Capitol and MCA Records Luncheon and Capitol’s Jon Pardi is set to open.
Friday March 1:
Cumulus Radio Medical correspondent and Emmy® award-winning CNN chief correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta is Friday’s featured speaker. Gupta will address attendees in an effort to help raise awareness about important health issues.
Panels scheduled for that day include Paul Jankowski’s “Branding For Sales,” Valerie Geller’s “Secret Of Developing Talent,” “An Analysis of Radio’s Digital Competition,” “Do Record Promotion Dollars Make Sense,” and “Accelerating Success For New Artists.”
The Black River Entertainment luncheon will feature Sarah Darling, Craig Morgan, and Kellie Pickler.
Closing out the seminar is the annual New Faces Show and Awards. This year’s class of New Faces is Easton Corbin, Florida Georgia Line, Brantley Gilbert, Jana Kramer and Kip Moore.
The CRS Badge Bar will return with a new design and is open to CRS attendees only. A variety of late night showcases and activities are also scheduled, including a 3-night poker tournament.
New features on the app for 2013 include: detailed maps, integrated calendar upgrades, a “real time” ratings system for panels and events, panel handouts and presentations and CRS-TV.
Locations to download the CRS 2013 App include:
www.countryradioseminar.com
www.countryaircheck.com
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/country-radio-seminar/id416970204?mt=8
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.seedlabs.crs
