CRS 2011 Attendance Jumps 22 Percent

Mar 7, 2011 CRS 2011 Attendance Jumps 22 Percent

CRS 2011 Attendance Jumps 22 Percent New CRB Officers, Board Members Announced (Nashville, Tenn. – March 7, 2011)  Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.® has announced an overall attendance figure of 2,649 registrants at CRS 2011, resulting in a 22 percent increase over last year’s event. The total number of CRS 2011 attendees was divided into 2,004 full registrants (attendees, exhibitors, panelists and sponsors) and 645 participant registrants.  Participant registrants are attendees that register for individual CRS events or purchase single day seminar passes.  Total attendance for CRS 2010 was 2,181 and CRS 2009 was 2,106. “I think this year’s attendance numbers speak directly to the success of Country Radio Seminar 2011,” says CRB Executive Director Bill Mayne.  “Since 2009, our attendance has shown a 25 percent growth, which is extremely encouraging, particularly in a struggling economy.  Our Country Radio Hall of Fame event and our New Faces show both sold out, and our panelists, speakers and talent continue to set a high standard of excellence in the Country radio industry.  We’re excited about the momentum CRS has provided for the rest of 2011 and into next year’s seminar.” Changes to the CRS Agenda Committee and CRB Board of Directors have been announced.  The newly elected CRB Board officers and CRS Agenda Committee leaders are as follows: CRB President: Mike Culotta (WQYK / Tampa, Fla.) CRB Vice President: R.J. Curtis (Country Aircheck / Nashville, Tenn.) CRB Secretary: Carole Bowen (WKIS / Miami, Fla.) CRB Treasurer: Jeff Walker (AristoMedia/Marco Promotions / Nashville, Tenn.) CRS 2012 Agenda Chair: Annie Sandor (Curb Records / Miami, Fla.) CRS 2012 Vice Chair: Clint Marsh (Talking Stick Communications / Warsaw, Ind.) “The energy at CRS this year was off the charts!” says CRS 2012 Agenda Chair, Annie Sandor. “Everyone I talked to could really feel it as well.  You saw it in the panels, the live performances and the conversations between friends.  It’s such an awesome feeling to be a part of an amazing event like Country Radio Seminar.  We’re ready to roll up our sleeves and start planning for CRS 2012 already!” Three members who were previously appointed by the CRB President have been elected back to the CRB Board of Directors.  Clarence Spalding (Spalding Entertainment / Nashville, Tenn.) and Johnny Chiang (KKBQ / Houston, Texas) were elected to 3-year terms, and Dan Halyburton (RadioTime / Palo Alto, Calif.) was elected to a one-year term. Other CRB Board members re-elected for three-year terms include: Carole Bowen, R.J. Curtis, David Haley, Clay Hunnicutt, Royce Risser, Tim Roberts and Jeff Walker. Skip Bishop (Sony Music Nashville / Nashville, Tenn.) was elected to fill a one-year term. Newly re-elected CRB President Mike Culotta also appointed three new CRB Board members: John Esposito (Warner Bros. / Nashville, Tenn.), Brian O’Connell (Live Nation / Nashville, Tenn.) and Jerry Phillips (Big River Broadcasting / Florence, Ala.). Continuing their terms on the CRB Board are: Jim Asker, Tom Baldrica, Becky Brenner, Joel Burke, Natalie Conner, John Crenshaw, Mike Dungan, Keith Kaufman, Renee Leymon, Mike McVay, Charlie Morgan, Joel Raab, Denise Roberts, John Shomby, John Zarling and Director Emeritus Charlie Monk. “CRS 2011 was a tremendous success for our Board, our attendees and the Country radio industry,” says CRB President Mike Culotta.  “From the insightful Country radio research presentation, to our CRS smartphone applications, to the new Connections Lounge, this year’s seminar integrated a lot of new ideas to ensure Country Radio Seminar remains innovative and relevant as we move forward towards next year’s CRS 2012.”  CRS 2012 will be held Feb. 22-24, 2012, at the Nashville Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.  Visit www.CRB.org for more information about Country Radio Seminar and the Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. To view an online photo gallery of events and panels from CRS 2011, visit: www.flickr.com/AristoPR About CRS: The Country Radio Seminar is an annual convention designed to educate and promote the exchange of ideas in the country music industry.  Country Radio Seminar is a registered trademark of Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.  CRS 2012 will be held Feb. 22-24, 2012, in downtown Nashville, Tenn. About CRB: The Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. ® is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization founded in 1969 to bring radio broadcasters from around the world together with the Country Music Industry to ensure vitality and promote growth in the Country Radio format.  More information may be obtained at: www.CRB.org or at the CRB office at 615-327-4487.