Prime row (l-r) Dean, Jelly Roll, Smith; Entrance: Ray, Block (Picture: CRB/CRS/Kayla Schoen)
At a present that has been occurring yearly since 1970, it is troublesome for performers to do a lot of something for the primary time within the present’s historical past. But final evening’s “New Faces Of Nation Music Present” in NASHVILLE included two performances that had been virtually actually “New Faces” firsts. STONEY CREEK RECORDS artist FRANK RAY concluded his excessive vitality set by bringing out 4 salsa dancers, who confirmed off their steps throughout his full of life, last, bilingual quantity, which integrated segments of the LUIS FONSI/DADDY YANKEE smash “Despacito,” incomes RAY the primary standing ovation of the evening. Later within the present, one other STONEY CREEK artist, JELLY ROLL, was virtually actually the primary performer within the present’s historical past whose temporary video introducing his “New Faces” efficiency was filmed on the jail the place he was as soon as incarcerated.
In between, attendees loved units from MERCURY NASHVILLE’s PRISCILLA BLOCK, BIG MACHINE RECORDS’ JACKSON DEAN, and ARISTA NASHVILLE’s NATE SMITH. A number of of the performers confessed to being nervous to carry out for the principally radio crowd within the OMNI NASHVILLE HOTEL through the present that concluded the three-day COUNTRY RADIO SEMINAR. They included JELLY ROLL, who stated of his nerves, “It is not typically you get to play for the people who modified your life.”
BLOCK took a second throughout her set to thank outgoing UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP NASHVILLE Chairman/CEO MIKE DUNGAN for believing in her as “that first woman who popped off of TIKTOK,” and for introducing her to Nation radio. SMITH confirmed off his playful facet in the one one among this 12 months’s intro movies designed to be humorous, a former present custom most labels have disappointingly pulled again from. Throughout his set, SMITH additionally confirmed off his humble facet, noting, “I get to be the messenger of music that may contact individuals.”
However the evening belonged to JELLY ROLL, who had half the room standing through the fully of his five-song set (that enthusiasm in itself doubtlessly one other “New Faces” first). He wandered off the stage and into the group for a bit, introduced out mates BRANTLEY GILBERT and STRUGGLE JENNINGS to play new music “Behind Bars,” and took the chance to announce that his subsequent Nation album, “Whitsitt Chapel,” is dropping on JUNE 2nd. As attendees filed out of the ballroom, the artist’s teammates had been handing out free hats selling the undertaking.
All through the night, particular video tribute segments aired honoring the present’s longtime host, CHARLIE MONK, who died final DECEMBER (NET NEWS 12/20/22) Among the many business figures paying tribute to MONK had been UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP NASHVILLE’s ROYCE RISSER, BIG MACHINE LABEL GROUP’s SCOTT BORCHETTA, former SIRIUS/XM programmer J.R. SCHUMANN and UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING NASHVILLE’s TROY TOMLINSON.
Beforehand introduced Humanitarian Awards got to artist TRACY LAWRENCE and BUCK OWENS PRODUCTION COMPANY, INC-owned Nation KUZZ-A-F and KRJK (THE BULL 97.3)/BAKERSFIELD, CA PD and air character BRENT MICHAELS (NET NEWS 1/24), who each delivered heartfelt acceptances.
Tracy Lawrence was awarded the Nation Radio Broadcasters (CRB) 2023 Artist Humanitarian Award at CRS 2023 whereas Brent Michaels obtained the 2023 Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award. Pictured (l-r): CRB/CRS Board President, Kurt Johnson, Michaels, Lawrence, CRB/CRS Government Dir. RJ Curtis, and CRB/CRS Board Secretary Beverlee Brannigan. (Picture: CRB/CRS/Hunter Berry)
