Todd O’Neill Named NASH Next Challenge Winner

Pictured (L-R): Scott Borchetta, Founder, President and CEO of Big Machine Label Group; Todd O’Neill; Mike McVay, SVP, Content and Programming, Cumulus Media

Todd O’Neill was named the grand prize winner of the NASH Next 2016 Challenge artist development competition last night (Oct. 25) at Nashville’s Mercy Lounge. The Cumulus Media talent contest featured live performances from the Top 10 national finalists and also American Idol Season 15 winner Trent Harmon.

The Challenge was judged by a panel of celebrity judges including Scott Borchetta, Kix Brooks, Jay DeMarcus, and Danielle Bradbery. Louisiana native O’Neill will receive national airplay on Cumulus Media stations, a recording contract with Big Machine Label Group, and will have an original song produced by DeMarcus. As a surprise addition to the grand prize package, sponsor Country Inns & Suites presented O’Neill with a $5,000 check.

Mike McVay, Senior Vice President, Content and Programming for Cumulus Media and Westwood One said, “Radio leads the way when it comes to music discovery. NASH Next 2016 Challenge genuinely discovers new artists, enables all of the contestants to be heard and allows the winners to take advantage of an amazing opportunity to be produced by a Grammy nominee. The listeners and the fans of the artists rated our 10 finalists. The judges made the final pick based on performance. The winners are all of us because we now get to enjoy the newly launched career of Todd O’Neill.”

“One of the things we always look for at Big Machine Label Group is individuality and Todd has that,” said Borchetta. “We are really looking forward to all that is to come from him.”