weekly March 13, 2023, Issue 849
CRHoF 2023: Inductees React
This year’s Country Radio Hall of Fame inductees share their initial thoughts: • Charlie Morgan: Apple Music’s Head/Programming has a long history in Country radio, including leadership roles for then-Emmis/New York and Indianapolis. He is quite familiar with the process leading to this honor. “I’ve served on that selection committee before, and I’m still a member of the CRB Executive Committee,” he says. “So, when I was told we were having a team call to ratify the CRHoF induction slate and handle other CRB/CRS business, I assumed I was not Charlie Morgan on this year’s slate.” To his surprise, the entire Exec. Committee told him of his induction, with longtime friend and former colleague Bob Richards personally delivering the news. “Because I know what it takes to make it to this point – the hours of debate and how many worthy candidates there are each year – it means so much.” He hasn’t started planning his speech, but he does have an idea for walkup music. “I don’t want to say what it is Trish Biondo yet, but there’s a song I love so much that any time my daughter hears it out somewhere, she texts me,” Morgan says. •Trish Biondo: Her more than 27 years at WUSN/Chicago included on-air personality, MD, Dir./Promotions and Dir./Research roles. “I was just happy to be working in a career I love with music I love in my hometown,” Biondo says. “Never in my wildest dreams did “Dollar Bill” Lawson I think of it as building a Hall of Fame worthy résumé.” Ever the show prep master, Biondo spent hours preparing for a Zoom call with Country Aircheck’s Chuck Aly focused on Chicago radio history. “I also made sure I looked nice for the call, in case Chuck wanted to take a screen shot for his story,” she laughs. (continued on page 7)
Food Fighters: Warner Music Nashville celebrates the first day of CRS during their annual luncheon. Pictured (back, l-r) are the label’s Cris Lacy and Gabby Barrett, Atlantic/Hear It Loud’s Colton Dixon and the label’s Kristen Williams; (front, l-r) CRS/CRB’s Kurt Johnson, the label’s Chase Matthew, Avery Anna and Ian Munsick and CRB’s RJ Curtis.
Kurt Johnson On CRS ‘23 & Beyond The 54th Country Radio Seminar is well underway and, as President of the CRB Board, Townsquare’s Kurt Johnson has a deep understanding of and wide perspective on the event and its future. CA: What do you want attendees to know about the work being done to shape this and future seminars? KJ: As with every year since 1970, the CRB staff and board have collaborated to balance
Kurt Johnson
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