2016 Country Radio Meet & Greet Lineup Reveals Rising Stars

MusicRow, Nashville’s leading music industry publication, is proud to reveal two rising country performers for its 2016 Country Radio Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards: LOCASH (Reviver Records) and Erica Nicole (Go Time Records). 

The invitation-only event will be held in Nashville in early February for MusicRow subscribing members, affiliates and country radio broadcasters just ahead of the 2016 Country Radio Seminar. Subscribe to MusicRow to receive your invitation.

The gathering will also reveal the CountryBreakout Award winners, tallied from chart performance on the MusicRow chart in 2015. Profiles of the yet-to-be announced winners will be included in the 2016 Country Radio print issue for MusicRow. 

“With so many of us growing up in secondary markets and having been greatly influenced by radio in those markets, it’s a thrill to honor the artists and songwriters who have reached the most airplay on MusicRow‘s CountryBreakout chart,” says MusicRow Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson. “I am also looking forward to showcasing the musical talents of Erica Nicole and LOCASH in front of the radio industry at this year’s event and seeing everyone come out for a great time.”

Print magazines will be available during Country Radio Seminar. MusicRow subscribers will receive their copies by mail. Additional issues can be purchased at MusicRow.com and at the publication’s 17th Avenue headquarters. 

Opening ceremonies for Country Radio Seminar (CRS) will begin on Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. This year’s conference will take place through Feb. 10 at the Omni Hotel.

About performers for MusicRow‘s 2016 Country Radio Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards

LOCASH (Reviver Records): Chris Lucas and Preston Brust of LOCASH celebrated the final MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart No. 1 of 2015 with “I Love This Life,” the title track from the band’s 6-track EP. As the first single from a new label deal and name change (from LoCash Cowboys), “I Love This Life” landed on iTunes’ list of the best country songs of 2015. In addition to co-writing the single, the duo also helped write Keith Urban’s “You Gonna Fly” and Tim McGraw’s “Truck Yeah.” LOCASH wrapped a run of shows in Las Vegas during Wrangler National Finals Rodeo late last year and sang the National Anthem at the Indianapolis Pacers game before a New Year’s Eve show.

Erica Nicole (Go Time Records): Erica Nicole received her first Top 10 record on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart with “I’m Making Mine.” With the 2015 single, Nicole became MusicRow‘s first female independent artist to achieve three consecutive Top 20 records. She has opened shows for such artists as Miranda Lambert, Eric Church and Brad Paisley and performed the National Anthem at Fenway Park (New York Mets) and CitiField (Boston Red Sox). The Georgia native has been working with producer Kent Wells (Dolly Parton) on her full-length release. In late 2015, Erica Nicole headlined the I’m Making Mine Tour and guest-hosted the TV program, Country Fix.