CRS 50 to Host Six Breakfasts Focusing on Digital Partnership, Digital & Tech, Label Mentoring, Programming Mentoring, Sales Mentoring, and Women’s Mentoring

Country Radio Seminar has released details surrounding six mentoring breakfasts that will be held at Country Radio Seminar’s 50th Anniversary event (CRS 2019), Feb. 13-15. 2019. Held in the Cumberland Rooms at the Omni Nashville, the breakfasts are Digital Partnership, Digital & Tech, Label Mentoring, Programming Mentoring (sponsored by SoCast), Sales Mentoring, and Women’s Mentoring (sponsored by NuVoodoo).

The Digital Partnership Breakfast, Programming Mentoring Breakfast, and the Sales Mentoring Breakfast are simultaneously scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 14 from 8:00-8:50 a.m.

The Digital & Tech Breakfast, Women’s Mentoring Breakfast, and the Label Mentoring Breakfast are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 15 and will start at 7:30 a.m.

An overview of each breakfast and participating mentors are below:

Thursday, Feb. 14
8:00-8:50 a.m.  Digital Partnership Breakfast - As streaming services become more prominent in listeners' lives, as well as the largest revenue driver for labels, it's becoming increasingly critical to understand how these platforms operate; the resources they provide; and how artist, labels, managers, and even radio can better utilize and partner with these services. Enjoy breakfast with the decision makers for these platforms, and use it as an opportunity to understand each platform, ask direct questions, get practical examples of partnership, and navigate how you can use these platforms to enhance your own brand. Mentors who will be present are Beville Dunkerley (Pandora), Madison Hanten (Apple Music), Margaret Hart (YouTube), Mary Catherine Kinney (Spotify) Allison Laughter (Red Light Management), Jay Liepis (Apple Music), Paul Logan (Spotify), John Marks (Spotify), Laura Ohls (Spotify), Annie Ortmeier (UMG Nashville), Kelly Rich (Amazon Music), Brittany Schaffer (Spotify), Sally Seitz (Apple Music), and Rachel Whitney (YouTube).

8:00-8:50 a.m.   Programming Mentoring Breakfast, sponsored by SoCast - This one-on-one session provides the opportunity for attendees to sit down with experienced PDs who can help them build their skill set and learn fresh new ideas. Confirmed mentors for the session are Mark Anderson (WDSY), Drew Bland (KKWF), Ginny Brophey (WBWL), Kevin Callahan (KSON), Justin Cole (WUSY), Grover Collins (WUBE), David Corey (WKLB), Jay Cruze (WAMZ/WBUL), Travis Daily (WQYK), Mac Daniels (KPLX), Kyle Due (KAJA), John Foxx (WNSH), JD Greene (WPGB), Tom Hanrahan (WDXB), Phil Hunt (Hunt Media), Kenny Jay (WUSN), Michael Levine (KKGO), Rod Phillips (iHeartMedia), Mike Preston (WPOC), Joel Raab (Joel Raab Country Radio & Media), Tim Richards (KMLE), Tim Roberts (WYCD), John Shomby (WKDF), Cindy Spicer (WFUS), Meg Stevens (WKKT), and Nikki Thomas (WIVK).

8:00-8:50 a.m.   The Sales Mentoring Breakfast will provide the opportunity to sit down and discuss radio sales with experienced mentors. Confirmed mentors for the session are speakers Dan Endom (iHeartMedia), Sarah Frazier (Entercom), Jeff James (CXO5 Partners), Judy Lakin, and Allison Warren (Cumulus).

Friday, Feb. 15

7:30-8:50 a.m.  Digital & Tech Breakfast - Industry professionals and platform experts will be available to provide insights on trends, present “case study” examples, and answer audience-provided questions with a focus on helping country radio stations leverage digital for their success. In the spirit of collaboration, this session also allows for a “conversation” between attendees and the strategists. Social media strategists will lead the Digital & Tech Breakfast session, and they are Eric Eisen (SoCast), Tim Gerst (Thinkswell), Jeremy Holley (FlyteVu), Jeffrey James (CXO5), Caroline Matis (Emma), and Shane Quick (Premier Productions).

7:30-8:50 a.m.  Women’s Mentoring Breakfast, sponsored by NuVoodoo Media - This breakfast will offer attendees the opportunity to approach and chat with some of music’s female “power players” in a comfortable setting. Breakfast will be served, and mentor connections will be set-up based on pre-registration; attendees will then have the chance to move from mentor to mentor throughout the session to ask questions and exchange contact information. Availability will be limited, and pre-registration will be required through the newly implemented breakfast sign-up program. In attendance will be Camille Alston (Day-to-Day Manager, Sandbox Entertainment), Carletta Blake (Program Director/Afternoon Host, WNCB), Becky Brenner (Consulting Partner, Albright & O’Malley & Brenner), Beverlee Brannigan (VP/GM, SummitMedia), Carsen (Director of Programming, Silverfish Media), Donna Hughes (National Director, Radio Marketing, UMG Nashville), Leslie Fram (SVP, Music Strategy, CMT), Carolyn Gilbert (President, NuVoodoo Media), Laurel Kittleson (VP, A&R, Curb|Word), Kimsey Kerr (Director, Marketing, Red Light Management), Judy Lakin, Alana Lynn (MD, morning host, KMLE), Marie Miscia (Director, Promotions, Cumulus Nashville), Jane O’Malia (Director, Northeast Promotion, Black River Entertainment), Donna Jo Passuntino (Director, Midwest Promotion, MCA Nashville), Nancy Ryan (Morning, Co-host, WRBT), Brittany Schaffer (Head of Artist & Label Marketing, Spotify), Jackie Stevens (Director, Midwest Promotion, EMI Nashville), Nikki Thomas (Program Director, WIVK), Deb Turpin (Program Director/Morning Show Co-Host, KSOP), Sue Wilson (Sue Wilson Creative), and Stacy Waugh (VP of Promotion, Big Loud Records). Those interested in attending the Women’s Mentoring Breakfast are required to sign-up here.

7:30-8:50 a.m.  Label Mentoring Breakfast – A unique opportunity to meet, greet, and eat with some of the industry’s most inspiring record label executives to create a network, gain knowledge, and connect on everything from mentorship to motivation. Together, they will answer the questions: how can radio, records, and all attendees work together to better the music industry as a whole? What key people can you connect with to help move your career forward? And, how can you implement this new knowledge today? Breakfast will be served, and mentor connections will be set-up based on pre-registration; attendees will then have the chance to move from mentor to mentor throughout the session to ask questions and exchange contact information. Availability will be limited, and pre-registration will be required through the newly implemented breakfast sign-up program.  This year’s mentors are George Briner (GM, The Valory Music Co./BMLG), Katie Dean (VP, Promotion, MCA Records), John Esposito (Chairman/CEO, Warner), Bill Lubitz (Regional Director, West Coast, Big Machine Records), Lauren Thomas (National Director, Sony), and Annie Sandor (Director of Promotion, Northeast, Capitol Nashville Records). Those interested in attending the Label Mentoring Breakfast are required to sign-up here.