CUMULUS MEDIA and NASH FM 94.7 Announce NASH Next 2018 New York City Country Challenge Showcase

CUMULUS MEDIA and NASH FM 94.7, New York City's country radio station, announce NASH Next 2018 New York City Country Challenge Showcase, a live country music talent competition, Tuesday, August 21, 2018, from 6:30pm-8:30pm at Opry City Stage in Times Square, 1604 Broadway between 48th and 49th Streets. The live talent competition is free and open to the public. CUMULUS MEDIA, #1 in country and radio's dominant source for country music, launched the fourth annual NASH Next 2018 grassroots national search for the nation's newest star earlier this year in over 54 U.S. markets including New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit and Nashville.

NASH FM 94.7 on-air personality Katie Neal will host Tuesday night's NASH Next 2018 New York City Country Challenge Showcase on the Main Stage of Opry City Stage, New York's home for country music and culture. Doors open at 6:00pm, with live music performances by 10 area country artists beginning at 6:30pm. The artists were selected to perform in a previous challenge round. The NASH FM 94.7 judging team includes: Country artist Jessie Chris; Dolly Chandler, Talent Buyer, Opry Entertainment Group; Leslie Slender, VP, Brand Partnerships, CUMULUS MEDIA; NASH FM 94.7 on-air personality Kylie Keene and NASH FM 94.7 producer and on-air personality, Jason Goldstein.

In addition to the live talent competition, Jack Daniels will present a walk-in whiskey tasting experience for Adults 21 and older on the third floor of Opry City Stage.

The 10 country artists performing in the NASH Next 2018 Country Challenge Showcase are:

- Chloe Collins

- Country Fresh

- Courtney

- Jeanna Lewis

- Jessica Rose

- Lauren Davidson

- Lyssa Coulter

- Nikki Dee

- October Rose

- Patrick Darrah

Chad Lopez, Vice President/Market Manager, CUMULUS MEDIA-New York, said: "CUMULUS MEDIA and NASH FM 94.7, New York City's country music station, are thrilled to present this exciting live showcase of local country talent in one of America's most high-profile country music venues, Opry City Stage in Times Square. This family-friendly program is free and open to the public and we anticipate a full house of New York City's passionate country music fans turning out to support these 10 talented artists."

Local artists entered the competition via the NASH Next 2018 page on www.nashfm94.7.com and to date, artists have been rated by local listener fans in the Tri-State area, as well as by music industry professionals.

Local winners will be judged by a panel of industry professionals who will decide the top 10 finalists. Those 10 national finalists will then compete at a live concert event in Nashville, TN, on October 11, 2018, where the NASH Next 2018 winner will be selected by a celebrity judging panel including Big Machine Label Group's founder, president and CEO, Scott Borchetta and Brooks & Dunn's Kix Brooks.

The winner of this four-month-long national competition will receive a record deal under the Big Machine Label Group, home to such superstars as Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts and the reigning ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year Brett Young. The NASH Next 2018 winner will receive substantial exposure, commensurate with a major label release, on Cumulus Radio stations nationwide. While television boasts several talent competitions, coveted radio play is the most effective medium to cultivate an artist and propel a major music career.

With 99 million fans, Country has become the #1 most popular music genre and CUMULUS MEDIA's NASH Next 2018 competition pays tribute to the great tradition of radio as a launch pad for country music's most beloved artists.

Mike McVay, Executive Vice President, Content & Programming, CUMULUS MEDIA, said: "Dreams do come true, and NASH Next 2018 is a testament to Cumulus' commitment to support and grow the next generation of great country artists."

About Opry City Stage

Opry City Stage is New York City's home for country music and culture, with good food and good times rooted in the South and served up in Times Square for the millions who come to New York City annually. Throughout the venue's four floors, guests will enjoy the sights and sounds of Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, including never before seen photographs capturing nine decades of unforgettable Opry moments, artifacts from the Opry Archives documenting the near-century story of the radio and stage show, one-of-a-kind art pieces, and more. http://www.oprycitystage.com.

About CUMULUS MEDIA

A leader in the radio broadcasting industry, CUMULUS MEDIA (NASDAQ: CMLS) combines high-quality local programming with iconic, nationally syndicated media, sports and entertainment brands to deliver premium content choices to the 245 million people reached each week through its 441 owned-and-operated stations broadcasting in 90 U.S. media markets (including eight of the top 10), approximately 8,000 broadcast radio stations affiliated with its Westwood One network and numerous digital channels. Together, the Cumulus Radio Station Group and Westwood One platforms make CUMULUS MEDIA one of the few media companies that can provide advertisers with national reach and local impact. The Cumulus Radio Station Group and Westwood One are the exclusive radio broadcast partners to some of the largest brands in sports, entertainment, news, and talk, including the NFL, the NCAA, the Masters, the Olympics, the GRAMMYs, the Academy of Country Music Awards, the American Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, and more. Additionally, it is the nation's leading provider of country music and lifestyle content through its NASH brand, which serves country fans nationwide through radio programming, exclusive digital content, and live events. For more information, visit www.cumulusmedia.com.

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