The 2017 Country Radio Seminar (CRS) took place last week in Nashville bringing radio and industry professionals together. Throughout the three day event, multiple events were held showcasing artists and highlighting music that we can all look forward to throughout the year.
One of the most highly-anticipated events of CRS includes Team UMG’s annual luncheon. Taking place at The Ryman Auditorium, fourteen artists took the iconic stage to perform one song. It’s unbelievable how can artist can leave a massive impression on an audience in just one song, but Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Jon Pardi, Dierks Bentley, Kip Moore, Lauren Alaina, Lady Antebellum, Easton Corbin, Billy Currington, Sam Hunt, Josh Turner, Chris Stapleton, Vince Gill, and Keith Urban did just that, and then some!
Kicking off the Team UMG event was Luke Bryan performing his current hit single, “Fast.” Following up was label-mate Darius Rucker, who joked that he wanted to soak in the moment that Luke Bryan just opened for him, and then preceded to showcase his new single, “If I Told You.” The momentum continued with Jon Pardi who treated fans to “Heartache on a Dance Floor,” and then Dierks Bentley who performed the touching song, “Can’t Be Replaced.”
Kip Moore took the stage with just a stool and his guitar to perform his new single “More Girls Like You.” It is likely that many program and music directors in the audience who had not previously added the song into their rotation were making that change straightaway after Moore’s impressive performance.
Lauren Alaina graced the stage with a powerful performance of her song “Three,” which ultimately earned her a well-deserved standing ovation. Alaina is currently in the Top 10 on the radio chart with “Road Less Traveled,” and her stellar performance further confirmed that her artistry is a must-have in this format.
It was great to see Lady Antebellum on stage together again performing their new song, “You Look Good,” which added to the excitement of the trio’s return with a new album and tour on the way. Easton Corbin, Josh Turner and Billy Currington each highlighted their brand new singles at radio now.
Sam Hunt treated the audience to an acoustic version of his latest hit, “Body Like A Back Road,” but not before sharing that while he is working on new music, he is also in the middle of planning a wedding.
Chris Stapleton radiates whenever he takes the stage. His music touches the soul and his performance of just one song was no different as he showcased “Broken Halos,” a song that was written for a friend who recently passed away.
Vince Gill earned a standing ovation before he even performed which serves as a testament of his talents to the genre. He treated the audience to a song, “When My Amy Prays,” a song he penned for his wife, Amy Grant, for her birthday. Not only was that a gift to Amy, but also to each one of us in the audience, and earned him another standing ovation.
Closing out the event was Keith Urban. The country superstar performed an epic medley honoring some musical greats that we’ve lost, following up with “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” which included an epic guitar jam session with Chris Stapleton and Vince Gill.
The Team UMG Luncheon has become a staple to the yearly seminar. The 2017 event was beyond impressive and further enhanced our excitement for each and every one of these artists.
