CRS Continues Six-Year Growth Streak

Opening day of CRS 2015. Pictured (L-R): Lady Antebellum (Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott), Trisha Yearwood, Garth Brooks, Todd Wagner and Bill Mayne (CRS Executive Director). Photo: Sara Kauss

Country Radio Seminar 2015 came to an end on Friday, Feb. 27 with a four percent increase in attendance, compared to CRS 2014.

This is the sixth consecutive year the event has experienced a growth in attendee numbers. A total of 2,424 full registrants (attendees, exhibitors, panelists and sponsors) attended this year’s event, which was held Feb. 25–27 at the Nashville Convention Center. In 2014, the total number of full registrants was 2,335.

The three-day event kicked off with an announcement-filled opening ceremony, including the news that CRS 2016 will relocate to Nashville’s Omni Hotel. In addition, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood made a surprise appearance and announced this year’s Country Radio Hall of Fame inductees in both the Radio and On-Air categories. As previously announced, the inductees are Joel Raab, Sammy George and Mike Kennedy. The inductees in the On-Air category are Randy Carroll (KAJA/San Antonio, TX) and Karen Dalessandro (WMIL/Milwaukee, Wis.).

The seminar continued with thought-provoking panels, valuable networking opportunities, prominent speakers, research presentations and intimate performances from some of today’s biggest stars and emerging artists.

With a combined number of 27 panels, sessions and educational presentations, the agenda was packed full of items that focused on many different areas of the country radio industry. Notable panels included, “The Power of the Connected Car,” “Direct From The Consumer Electronics Show: Coolest Gadgets & Gizmos for 2015,” “Social Media Bootcamp, Track 1: How To Speak In Your Brand’s Voice and Get Content Shared” and “Social Media Bootcamp, Track 2: Finding & Engaging Your Consumers In Real-Time.” This year’s CRS also included an appearance from featured speaker Keith Urban at the event, “Being Present,” and Lady Antebellum was featured panelists on “How 3 Become 1: Lady Antebellum.”