Nash (brand)
Nash is a media brand owned by Cumulus Media. It covers country music-related properties owned by Cumulus, including radio stations, digital properties and publications (Nash Country Daily), Nash TV (a video on-demand service operated in partnership with Music Choice),[1] concerts promoted by Nash FM stations (Nash Bash), and associated programming syndicated by Westwood One—including The Ty Bentli Show (formerly Ty, Kelly & Chuck and America's Morning Show), Nash Nights Live with Shawn Parr (heard evenings) and The Blair Garner Show (heard overnight). The Lia Show, which has been separately syndicated by Westwood One in the evening hours, will replace Garner in August 2020. Its name comes from Nashville, Tennessee, the center of the commercial country music industry in the United States, which in turn was named for colonial-era politician and Continental Army General Francis Nash.
The brand launched in 2013 with the launch of WNSH in New York City, and has since been adopted by other Cumulus-owned stations carrying country music (typically hot country formats with a focus on current hits and acoustic-leaning pop crossovers),[2] although those with heritage brands have not always switched to the Nash FM branding (but may still carry programming associated with it).
A sub-brand, Nash Icon, covers radio stations and a record label oriented towards acts associated with the 1990s and early 2000s.
List of Nash FM-branded stations
Former "Nash FM" stations
- WNSH — New York, New York — Original and flagship Nash FM station under Cumulus ownership.[9] Operated by Entercom since March 1, 2019, although owned outright as of May 13, 2019.[10][11] Rebranded as "New York's Country 94-7" on March 25, 2019.[12]
- WJCL-FM - Savannah, Georgia - Station dropped the Nash FM branding and reverted to its previous "Kix" branding on December 4, 2015.[13]
- KSJO - San Jose, California - Cumulus operated the station under a leasing agreement with Universal Media Access from May 25, 2014 to March 1, 2016, when Universal ended the arrangement, as it dropped the format for Bollywood music as "Bolly 92.3". The Nash FM format moved to KSAN's HD2 subchannel the same day as the flip.[14]
- KAMO-FM - Fayetteville, Arkansas - Dropped Nash Fm and switched over to Nash Icon on July 3, 2016.[15]
- KRMD-FM - Shreveport, Louisiana - Dropped Nash FM branding and reverted to its previous Country 101.1 branding on July 5, 2016.[16]
- KQFC - Boise, Idaho - Dropped Nash FM branding and switched to classic country on April 3, 2017.[17]
- WHLZ - Florence, South Carolina - Dropped Nash FM branding to Hot AC as Q100.5 and changed call letters to WQPD on April 17, 2017.[18]
- KBUL-FM - Reno, Nevada - Dropped Nash FM branding and returned as K-Bull 98.1 FM.
- WRKN - New Orleans, Louisiana - Moved over to 106.1 FM on June 19, 2017.[19]
- WZCY-FM - Hershey, Pennsylvania - Swapped call signs, frequencies, and formats with WWKL on March 15, 2018
- KSAN (FM) - San Francisco, California - Flipped from Nash FM to a simulcast of KNBR on 107.7 HD2 on June 2018.[20]
- WRKN-FM - Picayune, Mississippi - Flipped from Nash FM branding to Nash Icon on November 8, 2018.[21]
- WIWF - Charleston, South Carolina - Dropped Nash FM branding and reverted to its previous Wolf branding on November 19, 2018.[22]
- WTNR - Grand Rapids, Michigan - Dropped Nash FM branding and reverted as Thunder Country on January 4, 2019.[23]
- WPSK - Blacksburg, Virginia - Dropped Nash FM and reverted to its original branding, "107.1 PSK" during early 2019.
- KRST - Albuquerque, New Mexico - Launched Nash FM on May 30, 2014.[24] It was later dropped and reverted to its original branding, "92.3 KRST" on June 2019.
- WNNF - Cincinnati, Ohio - Dropped Nash FM and rebranded as "Cat Country 94.1" on October 1, 2019.[25]
- WPCK - Green Bay, Wisconsin - On November 1, 2019, Nash FM was dropped and flipped to Christmas music ahead of sale to EMF. Eventually, it has flipped to KLove on January 8, 2020.[26]
- WFYR - Peoria, Illinois - Dropped Nash FM and reverted to its previous "River Country" branding on February 3, 2020.[27]
- WDRQ - Detroit, Michigan - Launched Nash FM on December 13, 2013.[28] It was dropped and relaunched as New Country 93.1 on February 18, 2020.[29]
- WXBM-FM - Pensacola, Florida - Launched Nash FM on February 3, 2014 but was dropped and reverted back as 102.7 WXBM on March 9, 2020.[30]
- KAYD-FM - Beaumont, Texas - Launched Nash FM on July 3, 2013[31]Dropped Nash FM and reverted as KAYD 101.7 on April 1, 2020.[32]
- KATC-FM - Colorado Springs, Colorado - Launched Nash FM on October 31, 2014.[33] It was later dropped and reverted back as "Cat Country 95.1" on April 8, 2020.[34]
- WKDF - Nashville, Tennessee - Launched Nash FM on February 3, 2014 but was dropped and rebranded as "103.3 Country" on May 14, 2020.[35]
Nash Icon
In May 2014, Westwood One announced a spin-off of the Nash brand known as Nash Icon (previously announced as Nash Icons). The Nash Icon brand encompasses radio stations, content, and events oriented towards the "biggest country artists of the last two decades, who are still recording and touring but not getting enough exposure today"; Westwood One CEO Lew Dickey felt that there was not yet a "middle ground" between modern and classic country similarly to that of the Adult contemporary format (which lies between Contemporary hit radio and classic hits).[36] The first Nash Icon stations were launched at 12:00 p.m. ET on August 15, 2014 with the flips of W255CJ in Atlanta and WZAT in Savannah, Georgia, followed by a number of other Westwood One stations throughout the day.[37][38] In January 2015, Westwood One began to syndicate Nash Icon to non-Westwood One stations.[39]
The Nash Icon brand also includes a vanity label for veteran country artists operated in partnership with Big Machine Records.[36] On October 21, 2014, it was announced that Reba McEntire would be the first artist to be part of the label. Shortly after McEntire's announcement, Ronnie Dunn began to tease that he would be the next artist to sign. Dunn officially confirmed on December 1, 2014 that he was indeed the second artist to sign with the label.[40] Martina McBride announced that she had signed with the label on December 29, 2014. On April 29, 2015, Hank Williams Jr announced that he had signed with the label.
The airstaff of Nashville's WSM-FM serves as the network's 24/7 airstaff, although individual stations reserve the right to use local personalities. Some Nash Icon stations also carry Westwood One's "Ty, Kelly, and Chuck" morning show, which primarily serves Nash FM stations.
List of Cumulus-owned Nash Icon stations
| Callsign | MHz | City | Market | Start date | Former name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WSM-FM | 95.5 | Nashville, Tennessee | Nashville, Tennessee | August 15, 2014 | "95.5 WSM-FM" | Serves as the nominal flagship station, although its programming is locally focused and differs slightly from all other stations on the network; WSM-FM airstaff serves as network airstaff |
| WJBC-FM | 93.7 | Pontiac, Illinois | Bloomington-Normal, Illinois | August 15, 2014 | 1230 AM/93.7 FM, WJBC | Was previously a simulcast of News/Talk WJBC. |
| KQLK | 97.9 | De Ridder, Louisiana | Lake Charles, Louisiana | August 15, 2014 | “Hot 97.9” | Was Top 40 (CHR) |
| WDRQ-HD2 | 93.1 | Detroit, Michigan | Detroit, Michigan | August 15, 2014 | "93-1 DRQ" | Was Rhythmic Hot AC |
| WMIM | 98.3 | Luna Pier, Michigan | Monroe, Michigan-Toledo, Ohio | October 3, 2014 | "My 98.3 WMIM" | Was Adult Contemporary |
| WORC-FM | 98.9 | Webster, Massachusetts | Worcester, Massachusetts | October 31, 2014 | "98.9 ORC-FM" | Was Classic Hits |
| WOGT | 107.9 | East Ridge, Tennessee | Chattanooga, Tennessee | October 31, 2014 | "107.9 Big FM" | Was Classic Hits |
| WWFF-FM | 93.3 | New Market, Alabama | Huntsville, Alabama | November 14, 2014[41] | "Journey 93.3" | Was 1980s & '90s Hits |
| WKOS | 104.9 | Kingsport, Tennessee | Tri-Cities, Tennessee / Virginia | April 24, 2015 | 104.9 Nash FM | Flipped from Nash FM to the Nash Icon format.[42] The station also maintained a country music format known as "Great Country 104.9" before that.[43] |
| KTOP-FM | 102.9 | St. Marys, Kansas | Topeka, Kansas | December 22, 2015 | "102.9 Nash FM" | Flipped from Nash FM to the Nash Icon format.[44] |
| KAMO | 94.3 | Rogers, Arkansas | Fayetteville, Arkansas | July 3, 2016 | "94.3 Nash FM" | Flipped from Nash FM to Nash Icon[45] |
| KARX | 107.1 | Canyon, Texas | Amarillo, Texas | January 15, 2018 | "95.7 Nash Icon" | Switched frequencies with 95.7 as 107.1 Nash Icon[46] |
| WRKN | 106.1 | Picayune, Mississippi | New Orleans, Louisiana | November 8, 2018 | "106.1 Nash FM" | Dropped Nash FM branding to Nash Icon.[47] |
| WLAW | 97.5 | Whitehall, Michigan | Muskegon, Michigan | April 1, 2019 | "Sunny FM" | Switched frequencies with sister WLAW on 92.5 to 97.5 as 97.5 Nash Icon.[48] |
List of non-Cumulus-owned Nash Icon stations
| Callsign | MHz | City | Market | Start date | Former name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHHT | 103.7 | Cave City, Kentucky | Bowling Green, Kentucky | February 20, 2015[49] | "HOWDY 103.7" | |
| WKMO | 99.3 | Lebanon Junction, Kentucky | Lebanon Junction, Kentucky | February 20, 2015 | "KMO 99.3" | |
| WYRY | 104.9 | Hinsdale, New Hampshire | Hinsdale, New Hampshire | August 3, 2015 | "Hot Country 104.9" | |
| WXKU-FM | 92.7 | Austin, Indiana | Austin, Indiana | September 15, 2015 | "Kix 92.7" | |
| KGIL | 98.5 | Ridgecrest, California | Ridgecrest, California | February 18, 2016 | "98.5 Nash Icon" | |
| KORL-FM | 107.5 | Waianae, Hawaii | Honolulu, Hawaii | January 1, 2017 | "KPOP 107.5" | |
| WWKY-FM | 104.9 | Providence, Kentucky | Providence, Kentucky | April 2, 2017 | "104.9 The Wave" | |
| WABH | 1380 | Bath, New York | Elmira-Corning/Hornell | unknown | "1380/100.3 WABH" | |
| WHLL | 1450 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Springfield, Massachusetts | December 27, 2018 | "1450 The Hall" | Flipped from Sports to Country as Nash Icon.[50] The station is now operated by Entercom since March 1, 2019.[51] |
Former "Nash Icon" stations
- K273BZ/KCMO-HD2-Kansas City, Missouri. Joined the network on its August 15, 2014 debut. Flipped to alternative rock on November 2, 2015.
- W255CJ/WWWQ-HD2-Atlanta, Georgia. Joined the network on its August 15, 2014 debut as the first station to join. Flipped to Christmas music on November 23, 2015. The station then changed to a mainstream adult contemporary format on December 26, 2015, then flipped back to an alternative rock format on January 1, 2016.
- WRYD-Snow Hill, Maryland/Delmarva Peninsula. Became the first non-Cumulus owned station when it became syndicated by Westwood One. Flipped to a current-based country format a few months later, then gospel music on October 5, 2015.
- WZRR-Birmingham, Alabama. Joined the network on its August 15, 2014 debut. Flipped to Southern Rock/Country on May 20, 2016, then flipped to News/Talk on May 24, 2016.[52]
- KRRF-Ventura, California. Joined the network on its August 15, 2014 debut. Flipped to classic hip hop on May 27, 2016.[53]
- WOMG-Columbia, South Carolina. Flipped to classic hits on July 1, 2016.[54]
- KRMW-Fayetteville, Arkansas. Joined the network on its August 15, 2014 debut. Flipped to Adult Alternative on July 15, 2016. Nash Icon was moved to sister station KAMO.[55]
- KLSZ-FM-Fort Smith, Arkansas. Joined the network on its August 15, 2014 debut. Flipped to Nash FM brand on October 31, 2016.[56]
- WELJ-New London, Connecticut. Bought by Bold Broadcasting and flipped to Christmas music on November 1, 2016.[57]
- WUVA-Charlottesville, Virginia. Joined the network on September 18, 2015. Rebranded as C-Ville Country 92.7 on March 1, 2017 after WUVA is currently being sold to Saga Communications on Jan 2017.[58]
- WZAT-Savannah, Georgia. Joined the network on its August 15, 2014 debut. Flipped to Hot AC on March 24, 2017.[59]
- WCKR-Hornell, New York. Flipped to Hot AC on May 1, 2017 as "Fun 92.1."
- W237DE-Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Flipped back to sports as "CBS Sports Harrisburg" during Spring 2017.
- KARX-Claude, Texas. Joined on February 9, 2016. Flipped to Texas Red Dirt Country as "Texas Country 95.7, The Armadillo" on January 15, 2018.
- WVLK-Lexington, Kentucky. Flipped to Adult Hits as 101.5 Jack FM on February 20, 2018.[60]
- WKCM-Hawesville, Kentucky. Dropped the National Nash Icon Format and switched to localized music on August 1, 2018.
- KJJY-Des Moines, Iowa. Joined the network on its August 15, 2014 debut. Quietly flipped back to its former branding "92.5 KJJY" on May 28, 2019.
- WNUQ-Albany, Georgia. Joined the network on its August 15, 2014 debut. Dropped Nash Icon on November 27, 2019 due to the sale closing to Pretoria Fields Collective Media from The Mainstay Station Trust. The station was rebranded as "Q102, The Queen Bee" and a new format was launched on January 27, 2020. The call letters were also changed to WPFQ.
- KBZU-Albuquerque, New Mexico. Joined the network on its August 15, 2014 debut. Flipped to a simulcast to sister station KKOB (AM) on January 6, 2020.[61]
- WLAW-Newaygo, Michigan. Switched frequencies with sister WWSN to 92.5 as "Sunny 92.5".[62]
Critical reception
While there has been some good feedback on the launching of the Nash FM brand, it was a different story involving the Nash Icons' launching. In a commentary from Radio Insight, Lance Venta notes that Nash Icon's soft launch did not generate the attention that Nash FM got, adding that the stations that flipped to the format are in markets with more than 2 Country outlets (or in the case of Kansas City, 3 and Toledo, Ohio, 4) that have better ratings and more established, while others (like KQLK at Lake Charles, Louisiana) flipped from a format that had good ratings in order to cut into the ratings of a competitor (KNGT) and to protect a sister Country station (KYKZ). Venta later stated "Does this mean Nash Icon is destined for failure? Not at all. Cumulus is putting resources behind the Nash and Nash Icon brands that puts other formats to shame. This launch though has felt disjointed, rushed, and not what Cumulus and Big Machine first hyped it to be. Once the brand is fleshed out and additional features/shows are added, there could easily be additional demand for a brand to acts as the Adult Contemporary equivalent for Country listeners in a world where many of the format’s stations are evolving towards a CHR styling."[63]
References
- "NashTV To Debut January 26". RadioInsight. 2015-01-20. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
- Ross, Sean (March 23, 2015). "Country Radio Goes Pop: How Formats Shift When Genres Cross". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
- Venta, Lance (May 24, 2013). "Cumulus Launches Five Additional NashFM's". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved March 17, 2014. Source claims that change "already" happened at noon, but with a last update time of "5:00 am", it's unclear whether the article originally referred to May 23 or some other date.
- Venta, Lance (July 3, 2013). "Cumulus' NashFM Expansion Continues". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
- Venta, Lance (September 6, 2013). "Cumulus Launches Six More Nash-FM's". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
- "Cumulus Adds 11 More NashFM's". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. February 3, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
- Venta, Lance (October 31, 2016). "KLSZ Segues From Nash Icon To Nash". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks.
- Venta, Lance (March 2, 2018). "Cumulus Completes Harrisburg Format Swap; Revamps Nash Lineup". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
- Venta, Lance (January 21, 2013). "Cumulus Planning A National Country Brand". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
- "Cumulus, Entercom Close Six-Station Swap". insideradio.com. May 13, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- Venta, Lance (February 13, 2019). "Cumulus Sells Six To EMF & Swaps With Entercom In New York & Indianapolis". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
- Venta, Lance (March 25, 2019). "WNSH Relaunches as "New York's Country 94.7"". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- WJCL Savannah drops Nash branding to return to kix
- "92.3 KSJO Drops Nash For Bolly" from Radio Insight (March 1, 2016)
- Cumulus Snags Fayetteville AR Morning Team To Launch Radio Jon/Deek
- KRMD Drops Nash Branding
- KQFC Boise Drops Nash And Goes Classic Country
- WHLZ Florence SC Flips To Hot AC Q100.5
- Cumulus Moves Alternative & Country In New Orleans
- Another Cumulus New Orleans Change
- 96.9 Nash-FM Charleston Returns To Wolf Identity; Flips To Christmas Music
- WBBL Flips To Country As Thunder Returns To Grand Rapids
- Nash Takes Left Turn Into Albuquerque
- WNNF Cincinnati Drops Nash For Cat Country
- WPCK Becomes Christmas 104.9 Ahead Of EMF Sale
- WFYR Returns To River Country Identity
- Nash Comes To Detroit
- WDRQ Detroit Revamps As New Country 93.1
- WXBM Pensacola Drops Nash FM Branding
- Cumulus Nash FM Expansion Continues
- KAYD Drops Nash-FM Identity
- Nash Icon Launches In Chattanooga; Three More Stations Rebrand As Nash-FM
- Cat Country Returns To Colorado Spring
- WKDF Rebrands As 103.3 Country
- "Wanted for Radio: More Country Greats". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- "Oldies 98.9 becomes older-skewing country NASH Icon 98.9". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Media Group. August 15, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- "Nash Icons launches across the country". Radio Insight. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- "Nash Icon Gets Syndicated; Debuts In Ocean City". Radio Insight. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- "Reba McEntire Becomes Nash Icon Music Label's Inaugural Signing". Billboard.com. October 21, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
- WWFF Huntsville ends its journey & shifts to icon status
- WKOS shifts from Nash to Nash Icon
- Great Country Comes To Kingsport
- KTOP Shifts from Nash to Nash Icon
- Cumulus Snagged Fayetteville AR Morning Team To Launch Radio Jon/Deek
- Cumulus Amarillo Country Pair To Swap Frequencies
- Another Cumulus New Orleans Change
- WLAW & WWSN To Trade Places
- Nash Icon Brand spreads through Kentucky
- WHLL Brings Nash Icon To Springfield MA
- Cumulus Sells Six To EMF & Swaps With Entercom In New York & Indianapolis
- South Stunt To Lead To Talk 99.5 Birmingham
- KRRF Spins The Wheel To Classic Hip-Hop "Spin-FM"
- WOMG Columbia Returns To Classic Hits
- Cumulus Snags Fayetteville AR Morning Team To Launch Radio Jon/Deek
- KLSZ Segues From Nash Icon To Nash
- WELJ Goes Christmas Under New Owners
- Saga Launches "92.7 C-Ville Country" Charlottesville
- 102.1 The Sound Launches In Savannah
- Jack-FM Debuts In Lexington
- KKOB Adds Full Powered FM Simulcast
- WLAW & WWSN To Trade Places
- "Looking At The Nash Icons Launch" by Lance Venta from Radio Insight (August 17, 2014)