NYC Radio: NashFM Presents Tri-State Country Challenge

Cumulus Media's WNSH 94.7 NashFM is showcasing the Tri-State's best new country artists in an exciting live challenge event, the NASH NEXT 2016 Country Challenge Showcase, that is the next step to stardom for local country artists competing in Cumulus’ NASH Next 2016 national country music talent competition.

The NASH Next 2016 Country Challenge Showcase will be held at Hill Country Barbecue Market (30 West 26th St. New York, NY 10010) on Wednesday, September 14th at 7 PM.

The event is free and open to the public! Listeners are invited to come out and cheer for their favorite artist to help send them to Nashville!

Featured tri-state area country artists will each perform an original song at the NASH Next 2016 Country Challenge Showcase Competition. The NASH FM 94.7 judging team is comprised of Bill Evans, Senior Meteorologist for Channel 7 Eyewitness News, NASH FM’s Shila Nathan, Jesse Addy, and Mike Allan in addition to a station listener who will select the area semi-finalist at the culmination of the live music competition.

Local artists entered the competition via the NASH Next website and to date, have been judged on two challenges, by local music industry professionals, as well as listeners in their communities. First asked to submit an original song, contestants then adapted a popular song, with a new style.

Local winners will move on to the national challenge, submitting a live performance video showcasing their best original song, with the top ten artists selected by top country music professionals. Those national finalists will then compete at a live concert event in Nashville, in late fall, where the NASH Next 2016 winner will be selected by a celebrity judging panel and one listener fan judge.

John Foxx

A total of 68 NASH/Cumulus stations in 60 markets, including Dallas, New York, Atlanta, Detroit and Nashville, have conducted extensive local talent searches for the past two months, with additional national participation made possible by Cumulus’ digital properties and syndicated country shows.

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, Jay DeMarcus of chart-toppers Rascal Flatts, and Danielle Bradbery, joined by a Cumulus listener.

NASH FM 94.7 Program Director John Foxx said: “NASH Next 2016 creates an opportunity for country’s best new singer/songwriters to break into an ever-expanding format with a fast-growing and passionate fan base.  We are thrilled to showcase our area’s incredibly talented country musicians at this live challenge event and to select NASH FM 94.7’s semi-finalist, who will advance to Nashville for the final portion of this one-of-a-kind national competition. We hope that country’s next superstar will come from the tri-state area and look forward to hearing some great new country music from the stellar talent here at what is sure to be a phenomenal show! Come on out and cheer on your favorite local country artists!”