10 Tri-State Country Artists Compete in National and Grassroots Search
for America’s Newest Country Star
NASH FM 94.7 Personality Katie Neal to Host Evening
of Live Country Music Free and Open to the Public
New York, NY – CUMULUS MEDIA and NASH FM 94.7, New York City’s country radio station, announce NASH Next 2018 New York City Country Challenge Showcase, a live country music talent competition, Tuesday, August 21, 2018, from 6:30pm–8:30pm at Opry City Stage in Times Square, 1604 Broadway between 48th and 49th Streets. The live talent competition is free and open to the public. CUMULUS MEDIA, #1 in country and radio’s dominant source for country music, launched the fourth annual NASH Next 2018 grassroots national search for the nation’s newest star earlier this year in over 54 U.S. markets including New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit and Nashville.
NASH FM 94.7 on-air personality Katie Neal will host Tuesday night’s NASH Next 2018 New York City Country Challenge Showcase on the Main Stage of Opry City Stage, New York’s home for country music and culture. Doors open at 6:00pm, with live music performances by 10 area country artists beginning at 6:30pm. The artists were selected to perform in a previous challenge round. The NASH FM 94.7 judging team includes: Country artist Jessie Chris; Dolly Chandler, Talent Buyer, Opry Entertainment Group; Leslie Slender, VP, Brand Partnerships, CUMULUS MEDIA; NASH FM 94.7 on-air personality Kylie Keene and NASH FM 94.7 producer and on-air personality, Jason Goldstein.
In addition to the live talent competition, Jack Daniels will present a walk-in whiskey tasting experience for Adults 21 and older on the third floor of Opry City Stage.
The 10 country artists performing in the NASH Next 2018 Country Challenge Showcase are:
– Chloe Collins
– Country Fresh
– Courtney
– Jeanna Lewis
– Jessica Rose
– Lauren Davidson
– Lyssa Coulter
– Nikki Dee
– October Rose
– Patrick Darrah
Chad Lopez, Vice President/Market Manager, CUMULUS MEDIA-New York, said: “CUMULUS MEDIA and NASH FM 94.7, New York City’s country music station, are thrilled to present this exciting live showcase of local country talent in one of America’s most high-profile country music venues, Opry City Stage in Times Square. This family-friendly program is free and open to the public and we anticipate a full house of New York City’s passionate country music fans turning out to support these 10 talented artists.”
Local artists entered the competition via the NASH Next 2018 page on www.nashfm94.7.com and to date, artists have been rated by local listener fans in the Tri-State area, as well as by music industry professionals.
Local winners will be judged by a panel of industry professionals who will decide the top 10 finalists. Those 10 national finalists will then compete at a live concert event in Nashville, TN, on October 11, 2018, where the NASH Next 2018 winner will be selected by a celebrity judging panel including Big Machine Label Group’s founder, president and CEO, Scott Borchetta and Brooks & Dunn’s Kix Brooks.
The winner of this four-month-long national competition will receive a record deal under the Big Machine Label Group, home to such superstars as Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts and the reigning ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year Brett Young. The NASH Next 2018 winner will receive substantial exposure, commensurate with a major label release, on Cumulus Radio stations nationwide. While television boasts several talent competitions, coveted radio play is the most effective medium to cultivate an artist and propel a major music career.
With 99 million fans, Country has become the #1 most popular music genre and CUMULUS MEDIA’s NASH Next 2018 competition pays tribute to the great tradition of radio as a launch pad for country music’s most beloved artists.
Mike McVay, Executive Vice President, Content & Programming, CUMULUS MEDIA, said: “Dreams do come true, and NASH Next 2018 is a testament to Cumulus’ commitment to support and grow the next generation of great country artists.”