weekly March 30, 2026, Issue 1005
CRS First Timers React
Members of the CRS ‘26 rookie class share their thoughts and takeaways: • Connoisseur SVPP Keith Dakin: We use Kenny Jay as our consultant so I’m biased, but his work on the “Teen Music Listeners” panel was great. He gave concrete examples of action items that stations can take and make themselves better. Also a plug for Emily Harlan (who was up against Jelly Roll) for a very informative panel on how to voice track if you don’t live in the market. And Phil Becker’s use of confetti was a real highlight. I had never seen the famous Ryman event that MCA puts on and boy was it excellent. Keith Urban doing “Steal Away” was an unexpected highlight. Also, watching people cry and freak out at the Florida Georgia Line reunion [“BBR Music Group Night of Keith Dakin Celebration”] was a sight to behold. We were also able to hear a bunch of new music during many of our meetings. There is an abundance of material coming out in the next few months that makes me excited to be part of Country radio. [CRS was a] great time. Probably too great. I needed a three-day nap afterwards. The connections formed, the music heard, and the overall vibe and passion JD Johnstone for radio was inspiring. This will certainly be a yearly event for me moving forward. • Warner Coord. JD Johnstone: The “Roles & Relationships” panel was intriguing. Justin Cole, Miranda McDonald, Matty Jeff, Chris Fabiani and Marci Braun had an awesome conversation that showed why the Country format in particular has a solid relationship with labels. New Faces was amazing and every artist crushed it. Outside of the Warner lunch, the MCA lunch Danielle Martin was awesome and my first time at the Ryman. Miranda was funny and everything ran really smooth – including ending three minutes early, which never happens. But getting to observe how each of my coworkers builds and maintain relationships – their ability to easily connect with radio, other labels, streaming partners or people they’ve never met – was my biggest takeaway. That’s such a key skill you need to have in this business. (continued on page 7)
God’s Country Radio Seminar: Wheelhouse’s Blake Shelton at the label’s annual CRS event. Pictured (front, l-r) are WQMX/Akron’s Cherise Richards, WXCY/Wilmington’s Charlie Maxx, the label’s Brittany Pellegrino-Pittman, WQMX’s Sarah Kay and WUBE/ Cincinnati’s Grover Collins; (back, l-r) WWWF/Long Island’s Robby Bridges and Shelton.
Tour Launch: Saturday Night Live Luke Combs kicked off his My Kinda Saturday Night Tour March 21 at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, drawing what the venue reported as a record-setting crowd of nearly 71,000 fans. Among those in attendance were KUPL/Portland Dir./Content Dylan Salisbury, KPLM/ Palm Springs PD Kory James and iHeartMedia/Las Vegas SVPP MoJoe Roberts, who each highlighted both the scale of the production and Combs’ connection with fans. The night featured opening sets from Thelma & James, Ty Myers and
Luke Combs
(continued on page 3)
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