BMI Wraps Rising Through The Ranks Program For Female Radio Execs
Pictured (L-R): RAB CEO Erica Farber, Audacy COO Susan Larkin, Seven Mountains Media & CapCity Communications owner Kristin Cantrell, RAB SVP of Professional Development Jeff Schmidt, Leighton Broadcasting’s Executive Director of Digital Broadcasting Kelli Frieler, BMI’s Dan Spears, iHeartMedia Director of Country Programming KY/WV Ashley Wilson, BMI songwriter Ella Langley, iHeartMedia President of Markets Group Hartley Adkins, Cumulus Media EVP of Corporate Marketing and Westwood One President Suzanne Grimes, BMI’s Jessica Frost and RAB Director of Sales for Professional Development Kim Johnson.
BMI hosted its 2023 Rising Through The Ranks (RTTR) program at its offices in Nashville on Aug. 9.
The two-day program, now in its 15th year, is designed to provide the training, education, and networking necessary for female radio executives to rise to the next level in their career.
Each year BMI provides scholarships to 20 rising female radio executives from across the country so that they can come to Nashville to learn and help fuel their professional growth. Sessions are taught by leaders from the Radio Advertising Bureau team as well as some of the most respected executives from the radio industry.
As part of RTTR, BMI also hosts a dinner for participants that includes a performance by a female BMI songwriter who is currently rising through the ranks. This year Columbia artist Ella Langley was chosen and played multiple songs from her upcoming project. Langley has shared the stage with Randy Houser, Parker McCollum, Jamey Johnson, Lainey Wilson and Cody Johnson while collaborating with BMI songwriter Elle King on multiple songs. Spotify recently pegged her as a Hot Country Artist to Watch for 2023.
