Advance Agenda Details Released for Day 1 of CRS 2024: “The Digital Music Summit at CRS”

(Nashville, Tenn. – January 25, 2024) Country Radio Seminar (CRS) is excited to announce the detailed agenda for the Digital Music Summit (DMS) at CRS, set to take place on Day One of CRS 2024, February 28, 2024. This day-long event will be a deep dive into the evolving landscape of digital music within the Country music genre, featuring industry experts and thought leaders.

Morning Sessions:


  • 8:00 AM - 8:50 AM CT: "Y’all Means All: Diversity Breakfast" aims to address diversity and inclusivity within the country radio industry. The panel discussion will be moderated by Mia McNeal, Senior Director of Industry Relations & Inclusion at the Country Music Association (CMA), and will feature esteemed panelists, including Jaye Albright (retired Albright & O’Malley & Brenner), Jon Loba (BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville), Frank Ray (Stoney Creek/BMG Nashville artist), and Lily Rose (Big Loud Records, Back Blocks Music, and Republic Records Country artist).

  • 9:00 AM: "Data Defining Hits: How to Know Your Numbers” panel, exploring the impact of streaming data. Panelists include Patch Culbertson (Big Loud SVP/GM), Steve Stewart(Program Director & Director of  Country Content, WWKA/Orlando & Cox Media Group), Alina Thompson (Associate Director of Strategy & Operations, SiriusXM & Pandora), and Michael Chase (National Director, Radio at Warner Music Nashville). This panel will be moderated by Steve Knopper, Billboard Editor-at-large.

  • 10:00 AM: "Debunking Industry Myths" session will address and clarify common misconceptions in the music industry. Panelists include Margaret Hart (Head of Nashville Industry and Label relations at YouTube), Gator Harrison (SVP of Programming, iHeartMedia’s Nashville market and Brand Coordinator for iHeartCountry, Tim Foisset (Head of Label Partnerships, Nashville at Spotify), and Marisa Jeffries (Independent Consultant, former TikTok, SoundCloud, Sony), moderated by Annie Ortmier, Co-President of Triple Tigers Records.

Midday Sessions

  • 11:00 AM: "Cycle Of A Song: Bailey Zimmerman’s 'Fall in Love'" with insights from industry professionals including Rohan Kohli (Warner Music Nashville/ VP A&R), Jenni Tay (Amazon Music/Artist Relations), Stephanie Hagerty (Warner Music Nashville/National Director of Radio), Tracy Martin (The Core Entertainment/President), and Bailey Zimmerman (Artist, Warner Music Nashville/Elektra Records), moderated by Jamie Younger (Warner Music Nashville/VP Artist Development).

  • 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM: Pre-Lunch Performance featuring Joey Green, Sponsored by Texas Music Takeover

  • 12:00 PM - 1:50 PM: Warner Music Nashville Lunch and Performance. The lineup is forthcoming.

Afternoon Sessions

  • 2:00 PM: "The Podcast Opportunity," led by Tom Webster, a renowned expert in podcasting data and insights. This session will explore the potential of music-related content in the podcasting world.

  • 2:30 PM: “AI and Identity” by Todd Dupler from the Recording Academy (VP, Advocacy and Public Policy) will discuss efforts to protect the name, image, likeness, and voice of individuals in the age of AI.

  • 3:00 PM: "Cycle Of A Song: Jelly Roll’s 'Son of a Sinner'" panel, featuring John Meneilly(Left|Right Management/Founder), JoJamie Hahr (EVP BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville),  Mike Moore (Program Director for Cumulus Media’s WKHX-FM), Emily Cohen Belote(Amazon Music/Global Lead for Country curation), and Jelly Roll (Artist, Stoney Creek/BMG Nashville). This panel will be moderated by Chris Loss (BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville VP Streaming).

Evening Events

  • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Programming Networking Happy Hour

  • 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM: "Amazon Music Presents: Country Heat at CRS 2024" - The lineup is forthcoming.

  • 8:30 PM: "Paddle Royale Ping Pong Extravaganza"


Tim Foisset, Chairman of the Digital Music Summit, shares, "This year's Digital Music Summit will reflect how closely all aspects of our business - from streaming to social to radio to press - work together. I'm proud of the agenda team for working so hard to build an informative and actionable day for everyone who works to break artists and songs, both digitally and beyond."

Registration for CRS 2024 is open and is $699 per person. Registration is available throughwww.CountryRadioSeminar.com. Single-day passes are also being made available for purchase. Single-day passes (limited to two-day passes per person) are $329 and includes access to panels, speakers, luncheons, and networking destinations on the day of pass purchase, with the exception of Friday’s New Faces of Country Music show.  Day passes are now available on the CRS 2024 registration page (here) and available for purchase on-site.  This week is the final opportunity to register online. On-site registration will be available at the Omni Hotel Nashville starting on February 27 at the rate of $749.

For more information, please visit www.CountryRadioSeminar.com. 

Darcie Van Etten