Cumulus Kicks Off NASH Next Competition

Cumulus today launches the first phase “NASH Next,” a unique artist development competition that will discover and release music from the most promising Country talent, and introduces the official NASH Next judging panel comprised of three high profile music industry veterans.

The judges include:

• James Stroud, a legendary record producer whose career spans the pop, rock and Country music genres. Stroud has worked with some of the biggest names in Country including Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw and Toby Keith
• Kix Brooks, an award-winning Country musician, actor and film producer best known as being one half of the Brooks & Dunn duo and host of Cumulus's American Country Countdown 
• John Dickey, Cumulus Executive Vice President of Content and Programming. Dickey developed and continues to lead the popular NASH entertainment and lifestyle brand, which encompasses radio content, concerts/events, online content, television programming, the NASH Icon record label and NASH magazine

James Stroud

Beginning today, NASHNextCountry.com is open for registration to artists and bands, as well as fans who can participate in the online judging process. Aspiring Country artists are encouraged to build profiles on the NASH Next Country website and showcase their talent, personality, creativity and fan following through a series of challenges that run through November.

"I am honored to participate in this search to find the next great Country artist," said Stroud. "Throughout my career, I have invested in developing breakthrough talent and welcome this innovative new take on artist discovery."

John Dickey

“NASH Next will search the nation to find the best in undiscovered talent – from the musician trying to make it out of his or her hometown to up-and-coming Country bands," said Brooks. "We are thrilled to put the power in the hands of Country fans and help decide who will become America’s next Country superstar.”

“Never before have Country artists had the opportunity to grow their careers by connecting and engaging directly with their fan base in this way,” said Dickey. “NASH Next will spotlight the most impressive artists across the nation and I look forward to working with James and Kix to help discover the best Country talent there is.”

Kix Brooks

The winners will be decided based on a combination of the judging panel, an original “Spin Index” of social media activity and voting on the NASH Next website – the first time that online engagement between fans and artists/bands will be measured and counted in the talent competition through a partnership with SUM Media.

The grand prize winner will be signed to the new NASH Next record label, with the top 10 all participating in a 2016 NASH Next concert tour from coast to coast.

NASH Next marks the latest expansion of the popular NASH entertainment and lifestyle brand, and NASH’s second launch into the recorded music business (joining the NASH Icon label). NASH Next is based at the NASH Campus in Nashville, the nation's only multi-media facility devoted solely to producing and distributing content based on the Country music lifestyle.