CRS Day One: Streaming Summit, Warner Luncheon, CRS Honors, Amazon Country Heat

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Country Radio Seminar kicked off Wednesday (Feb. 23) at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Below are some of the highlights from yesterday’s programming.

CRS Streaming Summit

Jordan Davis, Kacie Lehman, Lauren Black, Kimsey Kerr, and Allison Laughter speak at CRS. Photo: Courtesy of CRB/CRS | Kayla Schoen

The 2nd Annual CRS Streaming Summit kicked off CRS week with targeted, informative sessions, combined with star-studded afternoon and evening music events. The day started with the Streaming Summit Networking Breakfast, and included several insightful panels such as sessions called Twitch/Live Streaming for Music, Music Discovery Through Streaming: Spotify Fan Study, Talk Data To Me: 2021 In Review, and Road To The Next Big Thing: The Connected Car.

Esteemed panelists included Timothy Babbitt (General Motors), Lauren Black (Country Now), Sung Cho (ChartMetric), Emily Cohen (Amazon Music), Patch Culbertson (Big Loud), Tim Foisset (Warner Music Nashville), Margaret Hart (YouTube Music), Claire Heinichen (Spotify), Brandon Jarrett (MRC Entertainment), Haley Jones (MRC Entertainment), Alison Junker (Spotify), Soy Kim (Spotify for Artists), Allison Laughter (Red Light), Kacie Lehman (Twitch), Ali Matkosky (Big Loud), Annie Ortmeier (UMG Nashville), Ashton Pierre (AT&T), Vipin Reddy (UMG Nashville), Steve Stewart (Cox Media Group), Jonathan Tarlton (Spotify), Alina Thompson (Pandora), and Taylor Viegut (UMG Nashville).

Warner Music Nashville Luncheon

Pictured (L-R, back row): John Driskell Hopkins (Zac Brown Band), Matt Mangano (Zac Brown Band), Clay Cook (Zac Brown Band), Jimmy De Martini (Zac Brown Band), Ben Kline (WMN GM/Exec. VP); (L-R, middle row): Kristen Williams (WMN SVP, Radio), Chris Janson, Cody Johnson, Drew Parker, Randall King, Morgan Evans; (L-R, front row): Zac Brown, Ingrid Andress, John Esposito (WMN Chairman & CEO), Breland, Jessie James Decker, Michael Ray, Cris Lacy (Exec. VP, A&R). Photo: Courtesy of CRB/CRS | Kayla Schoen

A full lineup of talented artists showed out for the the 4th annual Warner Music Nashville Luncheon. Zac Brown Band headlined the event. CRS attendees were also treated to performances from Jessie James Decker, Morgan Evans, Cody Johnson, Chris Janson, Ingrid Andress, Breland, Randall King, Drew Parker, and Michael Ray.

CRS Honors

Pictured (L-R): CRS/CRB Board President Kurt Johnson; Jason Aldean; CRS Executive Director, RJ Curtis. Photo: Courtesy of CRB/CRS | Kayla Schoen

Jason Aldean was honored with the Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) 2022 Artist Humanitarian Award at CRS Honors. The CRB Artist Humanitarian Award was created in 1990 by the organization’s board to honor those country music artists who have exhibited exceptional humanitarian efforts during their career.

Aldean also announced the Class of 2022 Country Radio Hall of Fame honorees during CRS Honors. This year’s list includes off-air honorees Becky Brenner and Barry Mardit, and on-air honorees Whitney Allen, Debbie Conner, Cathy Martindale, and Rachael & Grunwald. Read more about each inductee here.

Amazon Music Presents: Country Heat at CRS

Pictured (L-R): CRS Executive Director, RJ Curtis; Thomas Rhett; Conner Smith; Frank Ray; Morgan Wade; Amazon Music Head of Country Music, Michelle Tigard Kammerer. Photo: Courtesy of CRB/CRS | Kayla Schoen

Thomas Rhett headlined the 5th annual Amazon Music Presents: Country Heat at CRS. The evening show also featured performances from Frank Ray, Lily Rose, Conner Smith, and Morgan Wade. The evening was hosted by Kelly Sutton and Amber Anderson of Amazon Music’s original podcast, Country Heat Weekly.

LB Cantrell
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