NASH Next 2016 Starts Grassroots Search Country's Next Star

Kicking off Monday, Cumulus’ NASH Next 2016 competition again pays tribute to the great tradition of radio as a launch pad for our most beloved musical talent and celebrates country music, which has become the #1 most popular music genre, with 97 million fans.

The winner of this four-month-long national competition, announced by country legend Reba McEntire, will receive a record deal with Big Machine Label Group, home to such superstars as Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw, as well as substantial exposure, commensurate with a major label release, on Cumulus radio stations nationwide. While television boasts several talent competitions, no other contest  -- on any platform -- has ever offered its winners a similar opportunity for coveted radio play, which is the most effective medium to cultivate an artist and propel a major music career.

Mary Berner

Sixty-eight NASH/Cumulus stations in 60 markets, including Dallas, New York, Atlanta, Detroit and Nashville, will conduct local searches, with additional national participation made possible by Cumulus’ digital properties and syndicated country shows.

“NASH Next 2016 is an ideal way to leverage Cumulus’ leadership position in country music. By launching this competition with record-breaking support from our stations and affiliates, we are further signaling to listeners, advertisers and business partners that Cumulus is #1 for country,” said Mary Berner, president and CEO, Cumulus Media Inc.

She added, “With the continued explosion of country’s popularity, and with our programming now broadcast on 82% of all country radio stations nationwide, Cumulus has even more opportunities for growth, providing expanded exclusive content for fans, and an even bigger audience for America’s newest country star.”

Emerging artists will first be judged by Cumulus listeners and local music industry professionals in their communities. Finalists, and the 2016 winner, will be selected by a panel of country luminaries, including Scott Borchetta, founder, president and CEO of Big Machine Label Group, the world’s #1 independent record label, Kix Brooks, half of Brooks & Dunn, one of country music’s most successful duos of all time, and Jay DeMarcus of chart-toppers Rascal Flatts, joined by a Cumulus listener.

Local artists may enter the competition via the NASH Next website and will be judged on three challenges, by three local music industry professionals, as well as listeners in their communities.