CRB Announces Recipients Of 2023 Rusty Walker & Lisa McKay Women In Radio Scholarships
Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. (CRB) has unveiled the 2023 recipients of the Rusty Walker and Lisa McKay Women in Radio Scholars. Each recipient will receive complimentary registration, hotel and airfare for CRS 2023. Scholars will also be recognized during the week of CRS 2023.
Receiving this year’s Rusty Walker Scholarship are Tori D (Marketing Director, KIZN/Kissin’ 92.3, Boise, Idaho), Brooke Summers (Afternoon Host, KFGE – Froggy 98/Lincoln, Nebraska) and Caitlin Fisher (Morning Show Co-Host, K95.5/Tulsa, Oklahoma), while Liz DelGrosso (Morning Show Co-Host, KCLR/Columbia, Missouri) and Chelsea Lee (Morning Show Co-Host/Producer/Assistant PD, 100.7 KIKV-FM/Alexandria, Minnesota) will receive the Lisa McKay Women in Radio Scholarship.
CRB Scholarship Committee Chairman John Shomby notes, “This is an important part of our work at CRS, bringing new broadcasters to CRS, giving them a chance to network with and learn from some of the best in our business.”
CRS will be held March 13-15 and will feature a packed schedule that includes CRS’ most anticipated events, such as educational panels, virtual networking and workshops.
Andrew Jannakos’ ‘Gone Too Soon’ Goes Gold
Pictured (L-R, back row): Sony Music Nashville’s Andrew Stines, Shaun Lakey, Kayla Brown, Frank Demilt, Taylor Lindsey, Jess Keifer, Lexi Stringer, Taylor Sowers, Nina Schollnick, Alaina Vehec, Lauren Klein, Tracy Fleaner, Caryl Atwood, Jen Way, Lexi Rivera, Jason McColl, Andrew Jannakos, Paige Altone, Ken Robold, Lauren Zimmerman, Cary Ryan, Parker Stacey, Adam Davis, Alison Mingino, Madeline Lary, Steve Hodges, Meghan Reich, Nathan Thomas, Jess Wong, Emily Butler, Candice Surrency, John Johnson and Dennis Reese; (L-R, front row): Rachel Clogston, Rebecca Graham, Meg Kehoe and Olivia Laster.
RCA Nashville/Sony Music Nashville’s Andrew Jannakos recently took the stage for a sold-out crowd in his hometown of Flowery Branch, Georgia, where he was surprised with a RIAA Gold-certification plaque for his debut single “Gone Too Soon.”
Upon the track’s release, Jannakos earned a No. 1 debut on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart, while the track landed at No. 12 on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart and within the Hot 100. The song has amassed over 90 million on-demand streams to date.
Jannakos has also announced a brand new track, “Gettin’ There,” which will arrive on Jan, 27.
WME Adds Bryan Martin To Artist Roster
Bryan Martin has signed with WME for global representation. The news comes just before Martin is slated to unveil new music and hit the road on a national tour.
Hailing from Louisiana, Martin is a Cherokee Indigenous American country artist. His debut album, If It Was Easy, details his struggle with opiate addiction and mental health, and tells the story of growing up in an oil field family. Meanwhile, Martin’s sophom*ore album, Self Inflicted Scars, expands on his hardship and recounts his back-to-back suicide attempts at the early age of 19 years old.
“We are so excited to have the opportunity to represent Bryan,” notes WME’s Kevin Neal. “He’s a uniquely talented ‘throwback’ country artist. He’s lived his life through his songs.”
Martin’s upcoming single, “Wolves Cry,” will be available Jan. 27 via Average Joes Entertainment.
Case Hardin Inks With Grant Entertainment For Booking
Pictured (L-R): Grant Entertainment’s Candy Hutzell, Case Hardin and Grant Entertainment Owner Holly Grant.
Texas award-winning country artist Case Hardin has joined Grant Entertainment for representation and booking. He’s currently touring across the Lone Star State to support his recent album, Lucky Him, produced by Hardin, Ronnie Huckaby and Kenny Grohman.
Hardin scored his third consecutive Texas Regional Radio No. 1 with “Honky Tonk Highway.” The track is Hardin’s sixth song to break the Texas Regional Radio top 5. His additional chart-toppers include his first multi-week No. 1 “Alcohol Abuse,” and “When You Roll That Way.”
“I couldn’t ask for more in joining Grant Entertainment,” Hardin explains. “Grant Entertainment and their roster of artists stand for everything that I believe in. Through music, they too believe in preserving the cowboy and western way of life with energetic live shows and real country music. I’m proud to become a part of the Grant Entertainment family.”
“We are very excited to welcome Case Hardin to the Grant Entertainment family,” adds Holly Grant, Owner of Grant Entertainment. “Case is a very talented Texas country music artist and we are privileged to be a part of his ongoing success and growth.“
The Grant Entertainment team has represented Texas country music artists such as Jake Bush, who has notched five consecutive No. 1 hit songs on Texas Radio; Scotty Alexander, named the 2021 TCMA Guitarist of the Year; and Bailey Rae, who won the 2021 TCMA Young Artist of the Year and was a top nine Semi-finalist on NBC’s The Voice Season 19; among others. Grant Entertainment also represents national artists, including Bryan White, Darryl Worley and Chuck Cannon.
