NASH Next Label Signs First Artist, Breaking Southwest

Pictured (L-R): Mike McVay, Senior VP/Content & Programming, NASH/Cumulus; Scott Borchetta, President & CEO, Big Machine Label Group; Lauren Hall, KentBell and Kyle Gaston, Breaking Southwest; Elaina Smith and Shawn Parr, hosts of NASH Nights Live with Shawn Parr.
Photo: Tyler Andrews/NASH Country Weekly

Cumulus’ NASH Next label has signed Dallas-based band Breaking Southwest as its first artist, after the band won the NASH Next artist development competition last night (Dec. 3) at Nashville’s Wild Horse Saloon. The Top 10 finalists and the winner will begin the Nash Next Tour in February 2016, joined by Season 2 The Voice finalist RaeLynn.

Judges included producer James Stroud, artist and radio personality Kix Brooks, and Cumulus’ Sr. VP of Content and Programming Mike McVay. In October, BMLG president/CEO/founder Scott Borchetta was named as a surprise mentor.

The NASH Next nationwide talent search included an extensive series of competitions that challenged contenders to showcase their musical and creative talents. This included a cover song performance, multiple songwriting competitions and the creation of an original Instagram video, a PicCollage project and a fully produced original music video. The winner was decided based on a combination of feedback from the music industry judges, online fan voting and an original “Spin Index” of social media activity.

“This innovative talent competition showed the strength of the Country music fan community. We are delighted that we were able to connect with millions of enthusiastic Country music lovers and will now be able to take 10 artists and bands on the first NASH Next tour in just a few months,” said McVay.

“The entire NASH Next process has been incredible from start to finish and being the first winner is an honor. We want to thank Cumulus and NASH Next for taking this concept and making it a reality,” said Breaking Southwest members Lauren Hall, Kent Bell and Kyle Gaston. “We want to thank our families, fans and friends for listening, watching, sharing and voting. Thank you for supporting us and please continue to hold us to the highest standard…We’re ready to go to work!”