As the world’s largest Country radio event, CRS 2014, will kick off 2/19 at the Nashville Convention Center, the organization has provided all of the details that attendees will be able to experience.
The three-day event includes performances, educational seminars, panel sessions and networking opportunities. CRS 2014 is bringing back many of the staple CRS events: luncheons, Acoustic Alley, the Badge Bar and the Wednesday night Opry show; along with new additions such as the Muscle Shoals movie viewing and the New Faces after party, hosted by TNT and the stars of the anticipated new reality series, Private Lives of Nashville Wives.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Country Radio Hall of Fame Dinner and Awards and the New Faces of Country Music Show are sold out.
Some of the agenda highlights:
Tuesday, Feb. 18:
The Country Radio Hall of Fame Dinner and Awards ceremony will unofficially kick off the seminar. This year’s inductees are: Larry Wilson and Mike Brophey for the radio category and Paul Schadt and Jim Denny for the on-air category. CMA Board President, Ed Hardy, will receive the CRS President’s Award and Vince Gill will receive the CRB Career Achievement Award. Following the dinner will be the official Hall of Fame After Party featuring Rachele Lynae and sponsored by Momentum Label Group.
Wednesday, 2/19:
Brett Eldredge (Atlantic/WMN) will kick off the seminar with the national anthem at the opening ceremonies, followed by the presentation of Scholarship and the Artist Humanitarian Awards. Carrie Underwood is this year’s Artist Humanitarian Award recipient.
The Keynote Speaker, multimedia strategist Gavin McGarry, will follow the opening ceremonies. Wednesday’s daily featured speaker is CMA Vocal Group of the Year, Little Big Town. The band members will speak about perseverance in the music industry. Bob Kingsley will moderate the interview.
The “Team UMG at the Ryman” luncheon will feature artists from the Universal Music Group roster. This year’s performers are: Gary Allan, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Easton Corbin, Billy Currington, Vince Gill, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Scotty McCreery, Kip Moore, Kacey Musgraves, David Nail, Jon Pardi, Eric Paslay, Darius Rucker and Josh Turner.
Later that afternoon, Edison Research will present the CRS Research Presentation; an educational research panel in partnership with Jayne Charneski. The panel will focus on the increased popularity country music is seeing with the 12-34 year-old age group. Following the research panel, featured musicians from the new award-winning documentary Muscle Shoals will present a panel called “Muscle Shoals: The Magic In The Music,” featuring Rick Hall, Jimmy Johnson, Spooner Oldham, David Hood, and Mac McAnally.
That night, the “Grand Ole Opry at CRS” show will include performances by Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts and Old Crow Medicine Show, along with Thompson Square, Chris Young, Charles Esten (Deacon Claybourne from hit ABC television series, Nashville), Love & Theft, Brandy Clark, Will Hoge and Eric Paslay. Bill Cody will host the event. A screening of the Muscle Shoals documentary will follow the Opry show during CRS After Hours.
Thursday, 2/20:
Thursday morning will start off with a Programming Mentoring Breakfast, sponsored by Win/Win Radio, with panels following this one-on-one session. Following breakfast, Steve Jones will speak on how to “Brand Like A Rockstar.”
Panel highlights for the day include: “Five Ways to Grow Digital Revenue Now!,” “Rhapsody, Beats, YouTube, and iHeart: It’s Their Country, Too,” “The Do’s and Don’ts of Social Media,” and “Why Choosy Brands Choose Country.”
Thursday’s UMG Nashville Lunch, which will take place at the Ryman Auditorium, will feature performers Jennifer Nettles, Brothers Osborne and Kalleigh Bannen.
For the third consecutive year, “Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley” will return with an all-star lineup of hit songwriters. Ben Hayslip, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Ashley Gorley, Rodney Clawson, Brett James, Matt Jenkins, Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and several surprise guests are set to perform at the event, which is presented by Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40 and co-sponsored by SunTrust Bank.
Friday, 2/21:
Friday morning will start off with a networking opportunity at the Managers’ Breakfast. Following the breakfast, Andy Bailey will speak on time management in the digital age.
Panels scheduled for Friday include “Marketing on a Shoestring Budget,” “Your Career: Is Bigger Always Better?,” “Real-Life Clients: The Recipes for Ridiculous Reviews,” and “Radio and Records: Do You Know What I Do?”
The Black River Entertainment luncheon will feature Craig Morgan, Kellie Pickler and John King.
In the afternoon, the BMI Legends Session will feature John Oates.
Closing out the seminar is the annual New Faces Show and Awards. This year’s class of New Faces is Brett Eldredge (Atlantic/WMN), Tyler Farr (Columbia), Cassadee Pope (Republic Nashville), Thomas Rhett (Valory) and Charlie Worsham (Warner Bros./WAR).
