CRS 2011 Photo Highlights

Mar 7, 2011 CRS 2011 Photo Highlights

CRS 2011 Photo Highlights   (Nashville, Tenn. – March 7, 2011)  Country Radio Seminar 2011, held March 2-4 at the Nashville Convention Center, was packed from morning to night with educational panels, speakers, luncheons, research presentations, performances and endless networking opportunities.  Here are a few selected photos of CRS 2011 highlights. View the official CRS 2011 online photo gallery at www.flickr.com/AristoPR On Wednesday, March 2, Arista Nashville recording artist Carrie Underwood helped officially kick off CRS 2011 with a performance of the national anthem immediately prior to the seminar's keynote address, delivered by Scripps Networks CEO Ken Lowe.  Pictured l to r: CRB Executive Director Bill Mayne, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, Underwood, Lowe and CRB President Mike Culotta.  Photo: Bev Moser. Lionel Richie made a surprise appearance at Universal Music Group Nashville's CRS 2011 luncheon at the Ryman Auditorium on Wednesday, March 2.  The Pop and R&B superstar stopped in at the CRS Connections Lounge after his performance.  Pictured l to r: UMG's Katie Dean, CRB Agenda Committee member John Paul, Clear Channel/Milwaukee's Kerry Wolfe, Richie, CRB Board member Keith Kaufman, UMG Sr VP/Promotion and CRB Board member Royce Risser and UMG's Ken Robold.  Photo: Bev Moser. Warner Music Nashville artist Blake Shelton was this year's headlining act at the ACM and Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40-sponsored CRS 2011 Music City Jam, held on Wednesday, March 2.  Shelton's musical guests during the show included Frankie Ballard, The Band Perry (ACM Top New Vocal Duo or Group Award winners), Luke Bryan, Laura Bell Bundy, Brett Eldredge and Chris Young.  Pictured l to r: The Band Perry, Shelton, Eric Church (ACM Top New Solo Vocalist Award winner), Luke Bryan and Academy of Country Music CEO Bob Romeo.  Photo: Bev Moser. The CRB and CMA co-sponsored the CRS 2011 Country Radio research study, conducted by media research firm Coleman Insights.  The results were presented during the CRS research panel on Thursday, March 3, at the Nashville Convention Center.  Pictured l to r: CMA Market Research Director Greg Fuson, CRB President Mike Culotta, Coleman Insights VP Sam Milkman, CMA VP/Strategic Partnerships Sherri Warnke, Coleman Insights President/CEO Warren Kurtzman, Coleman Insights VP Chris Ackerman and CRB Executive Director Bill Mayne.  Photo: Bev Moser. The annual New Faces of Country Music Show, co-sponsored by MDA and Country Aircheck, closed out CRS 2011 on Friday night, March 4, at the Nashville Convention Center.  This year's performers were: The Band Perry, Lee Brice, Jerrod Niemann, Steel Magnolia and Josh Thompson.  Pictured l to r: CRB Executive Director Bill Mayne, Country Aircheck's Lon Helton, Reid Perry, Josh Thompson, Kimberly Perry, Neil Perry, Lee Brice, MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Abbey Umali, Steel Magnolia's Meghan Linsey, Jerrod Niemann, Steel Magnolia's Joshua Scott Jones and CRB President Mike Culotta.  Photo: Bev Moser.