Nash FM

Nash FM is a media brand and network owned by Westwood One in the United States and Bell Media in Canada. The brand serves as a platform for the Country radio format and offers two different products: "Nash FM," airing current hits, and "Nash Icon," airing an adult-contemporary-focused playlist of more established Country artists. 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.

Nash FM is, as of 2014, used on FM radio stations carrying country music (typically hot country formats) owned by Nash parent company, Cumulus Media, and is the primary brand (though many stations with longtime heritage country formats continue to brand as they have in the past and only take some Nash FM playlists and programming). Nash FM stations, since March 2015, have included in their rotations a blend of country and acoustic-leaning pop music.[1]

On January 21, 2013, the first station to become Nash FM was 94.7, licensed to Newark, New Jersey in the New York City radio market, WNSH.[2]

Syndicated programming common to many stations using the brand includes Ty, Kelly & Chuck (formerly called America's Morning Show), Nash Nights Live with Shawn Parr (heard evenings) and The Blair Garner Show (heard overnight). National news is provided through an agreement with CNN.

List of Nash FM-branded stations

CallsignMHzCityMarketStart dateFormer nameNotes
WNSH94.7Newark, New JerseyNew York, New YorkJanuary 21, 2013[2]WFMEOriginating/flagship station; former East Coast flagship for Family Radio before sale to Cumulus[2]
WKDF103.3Nashville, TennesseeNashville, TennesseeFebruary 3, 2014[3]"103.3 WKDF"[3]Nominal flagship station
WYZB105.5Mary Esther, FloridaFort Walton Beach, FloridaFebruary 3, 2014[3]"105.5 The Wolf"[3]
WXBM-FM102.7Milton, FloridaPensacola, Florida[3]February 3, 2014[3]"Your Country 102.7"[3]
WHKR102.7Rockledge, FloridaMelbourne, Florida[4]July 3, 2013[4]"102.7 The Hit Kicker"[4]
WKAK104.5Albany, GeorgiaAlbany, GeorgiaMay 2013[5]"K-Country 104"
WFYR97.3Elmwood, IllinoisPeoria, Illinois[6]September 6, 2013[6]"97.3 River Country"[6]
WMDH-FM102.5New Castle, IndianaMuncie, Indiana[6]September 6, 2013[6]"Hit Country 102.5 WMDH"[6]
KHKI97.3Des Moines, IowaDes Moines, IowaMay 2013[5]"97.3 The Hawk"[5]
WLXX92.9Lexington, KentuckyLexington, KentuckyMay 2013[5] "92.9 WLXX"
KSAN-HD2107.7San Mateo, CaliforniaSan Francisco Bay Area[6]March 1, 2016Was Active Rock.
KXKC99.1New Iberia, LouisianaLafayette, Louisiana[6]September 6, 2013[6]"New Country 99.1 KXKC"
KGIL98.5Ridgecrest, CaliforniaRidgecrest, CaliforniaFebruary 3, 2014[3]"NunYA"[3]
WDRQ93.1Detroit, MichiganDetroit, MichiganDecember 13, 2013[7]"93.1 Doug FM"[7]Was Adult Hits
WFBE95.1Flint, MichiganFlint, MichiganFebruary 3, 2014[3]"B95.1"[3]
WTNR94.5Holland, MichiganGrand Rapids, MichiganFebruary 3, 2014[3]"Thunder 94.5"[3]
WKOR-FM94.9Columbus, MississippiColumbus, MississippiFebruary 3, 2014[3]"K-94.9"[3]
KBBM100.1Jefferson City, MissouriColumbia, MissouriOctober 7, 2013"Sports Radio 100.1 The Fan"Formerly Sports Talk
WNNF94.1Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, OhioFebruary 7, 2014[8]"Great Country 94.1"[8]
WSJR93.7Dallas, PennsylvaniaScranton, Pennsylvania[4]July 3, 2013[4]"Great Country 93.7"[4] ("JR 93.7" before that)
KAYD-FM101.7Silsbee, TexasBeaumont, Texas[4]July 3, 2013[4]"KD 101"[4]
WZCY-FM93.5Mechanicsburg, PennsylvaniaHarrisburg, Pennsylvania
WXTA97.9Edinboro, PennsylvaniaErie, PennsylvaniaFebruary 3, 2014[3]"Country 98"[3]
WIWF96.9Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston, South CarolinaFebruary 3, 2014[3]"96.9 The Wolf"[3]
WLFF106.5Georgetown, South CarolinaGrand Strand / Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaSeptember 6, 2013[6]"106.5 The Coyote"
WPSK-FM107.1Pulaski, VirginiaBlacksburg, Virginia[3]February 5, 2014"107 Country PSK"[3]
WPCK104.9Denmark, WisconsinGreen Bay, Wisconsin[5]May 2013[5]"99.5 & 104.9 The Wolf"[5]simulcasts 99.5 WPKR
WPKR99.5Omro, WisconsinGreen Bay, Wisconsin[5]May 2013[5]"99.5 & 104.9 The Wolf"[5]
KATC-FM95.1Colorado Springs, ColoradoColorado Springs, ColoradoOctober 31, 2014"Cat Country 95.1"[9]
KRST92.3Albuquerque, New MexicoAlbuquerque, New MexicoMay 30, 2014"92.3 KRST Country"[10]
KLSZ100.7Fort Smith, ArkansasFort Smith, ArkansasOctober 31, 2016"100.7 Nash Icon"[11]
WRKN106.1New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, LouisianaJune 19, 2017"106.1 Nash FM"[12]

Former "Nash FM" stations

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).[20] 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.[21][22] In January 2015, Westwood One began to syndicate Nash Icon to non-Westwood One stations.[23]

The Nash Icon brand also includes a vanity label for veteran country artists operated in partnership with Big Machine Records.[20] 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.[24] 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

CallsignMHzCityMarketStart dateFormer nameNotes
WSM-FM95.5Nashville, TennesseeNashville, TennesseeAugust 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
WNUQ102.1Albany, GeorgiaAlbany, GeorgiaAugust 15, 2014“Q102.1”Was Top 40 (CHR)
WJBC-FM93.7Pontiac, IllinoisBloomington-Normal, IllinoisAugust 15, 20141230 AM/93.7 FM, WJBCWas previously a simulcast of News/Talk WJBC.
KJJY92.5Des Moines, IowaDes Moines, IowaAugust 15, 201492.5 KJJY
KQLK97.9De Ridder, LouisianaLake Charles, LouisianaAugust 15, 2014“Hot 97.9”Was Top 40 (CHR)
WDRQ-HD293.1Detroit, MichiganDetroit, MichiganAugust 15, 2014"93-1 DRQ"Was Rhythmic Hot AC
WLAW92.5Newaygo, MichiganMuskegon, MichiganAugust 15, 2014“92.5 The Outlaw”Was a classic country station, focusing on Country hits from the 1950s-1990s
KBZU96.3Albuquerque, New MexicoAlbuquerque, New MexicoAugust 15, 2014“96.3 The Mountain”Was Classic Rock
WMIM98.3Luna Pier, MichiganMonroe, Michigan-Toledo, OhioOctober 3, 2014"My 98.3 WMIM"Was Adult Contemporary
WORC-FM98.9Webster, MassachusettsWorcester, MassachusettsOctober 31, 2014"98.9 ORC-FM"Was Classic Hits
WOGT107.9East Ridge, TennesseeChattanooga, TennesseeOctober 31, 2014"107.9 Big FM"Was Classic Hits
WWFF-FM93.3New Market, AlabamaHuntsville, AlabamaNovember 14, 2014[25]"Journey 93.3"Was 1980s & '90s Hits
WKOS104.9Kingsport, TennesseeTri-Cities, Tennessee / VirginiaApril 24, 2015104.9 Nash FMFlipped from Nash FM to the Nash Icon format.[26] The station also maintained a Country music format known as "Great Country 104.9" before that.[4]
KTOP-FM102.9St. Marys, KansasTopeka, KansasDecember 22, 2015"102.9 Nash FM"Flipped from Nash FM to the Nash Icon format.[27]
KAMO94.3Rogers, ArkansasFayetteville, ArkansasJuly 3, 2016"94.3 Nash FM"Flipped from Nash FM to Nash Icon[28]
KARX107.1Canyon, TexasAmarillo, TexasJanuary 15, 2018"95.7 Nash Icon"Switched frequencies with 95.7 as 107.1 Nash Icon[29]

List of Non Cumulus-owned Nash Icon stations

CallsignMHzCityMarketStart dateFormer nameNotes
WHHT103.7Cave City, KentuckyBowling Green, KentuckyFebruary 20, 2015[30]"HOWDY 103.7"1
WKMO99.3Lebanon Junction, KentuckyLebanon Junction, KentuckyFebruary 20, 2015"KMO 99.3"1
WYRY104.9Hinsdale, New HampshireHinsdale, New HampshireAugust 3, 2015"Hot Country 104.9"1
WXKU-FM92.7Austin, IndianaAustin, IndianaSeptember 15, 2015"Kix 92.7"1
KORL-FM107.5Waianae, HawaiiHonolulu, HawaiiJanuary 1, 2017"KPOP 107.5"1
WWKY-FM104.9Providence, KentuckyProvidence, KentuckyApril 2, 2017"104.9 The Wave"1
WKCM1160Hawesville, KentuckyOwensboro, KentuckyAugust 25, 2017Real Country 11601 The First AM Station to Broadcast Nash Icons & Also broadcast on 97.9 FM, 98.7 FM & 101.3 FM


1 - Indicates a Station that is not owned by Cumulus.

Former "Nash Icon" stations

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/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."[40]

Cross-branding

Nash FM also has a Television Outlet called Nash TV, which is an American video on demand television network that is owned by Westwood One and operated by Music Choice through an agreement, building on WW1's Nash FM and Nash Icon brand. The channel launched January 26, 2015.[41]

The magazine Country Weekly has carried the Nash brand and logo since June 2015.[42]

References

  1. ↑ Ross, Sean (March 23, 2015). "Country Radio Goes Pop: How Formats Shift When Genres Cross". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Cumulus Planning A National Country Brand". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. January 21, 2013. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 "Cumulus Adds 11 More NashFM's". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. February 3, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Cumulus' NashFM Expansion Continues". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. July 3, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Cumulus Launches Five Additional NashFM's". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. May 24, 2013. 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.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Cumulus Launches Six More Nash-FM's". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. September 6, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Nash Comes To Detroit". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. December 13, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Cumulus Adds 11 More NashFM's". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. February 3, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  9. ↑ "3 More Stations Rebrand as Nash FM" from Radio Insight (October 31, 2014)
  10. ↑ "Nash Takes Left Turn Into Albuquerque" from Radio Insight (May 30, 2014)
  11. ↑ "KLSZ Segues From Nash Icon To Nash from Radio Insight (October 31, 2016)
  12. ↑ "Cumulus Moves Alternative & Country In New Orleans from Radio Insight (June 19, 2017)
  13. ↑ WJCL Savannah drops Nash branding to return to kix
  14. ↑ "92.3 KSJO Drops Nash For Bolly" from Radio Insight (March 1, 2016)
  15. ↑ Cumulus Snags Fayetteville AR Morning Team To Launch Radio Jon/Deek
  16. ↑ KRMD Drops Nash Branding
  17. ↑ KQFC Boise Drops Nash And Goes Classic Country
  18. ↑ WHLZ Florence SC Flips To Hot AC Q100.5
  19. ↑ Cumulus Moves Alternative & Country In New Orleans
  20. 1 2 "Wanted for Radio: More Country Greats". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Oldies 98.9 becomes older-skewing country NASH Icon 98.9". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Media Group. August 15, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Nash Icons launches across the country". Radio Insight. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Nash Icon Gets Syndicated; Debuts In Ocean City". Radio Insight. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  24. ↑ "Reba McEntire Becomes Nash Icon Music Label's Inaugural Signing". Billboard.com. October 21, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  25. ↑ WWFF Huntsville ends its journey & shifts to icon status
  26. ↑ WKOS shifts from Nash to Nash Icon
  27. ↑ KTOP Shifts from Nash to Nash Icon
  28. ↑ Cumulus Snagged Fayetteville AR Morning Team To Launch Radio Jon/Deek
  29. ↑ Cumulus Amarillo Country Pair To Swap Frequencies
  30. ↑ Nash Icon Brand spreads through Kentucky
  31. ↑ South Stunt To Lead To Talk 99.5 Birmingham
  32. ↑ KRRF Spins The Wheel To Classic Hip-Hop "Spin-FM"
  33. ↑ WOMG Columbia Returns To Classic Hits
  34. ↑ Cumulus Snags Fayetteville AR Morning Team To Launch Radio Jon/Deek
  35. ↑ KLSZ Segues From Nash Icon To Nash
  36. ↑ WELJ Goes Christmas Under New Owners
  37. ↑ Saga Launches "92.7 C-Ville Country" Charlottesville
  38. ↑ 102.1 The Sound Launches In Savannah
  39. ↑ Jack-FM Debuts In Lexington
  40. ↑ "Looking At The Nash Icons Launch" by Lance Venta from Radio Insight (August 17, 2014)
  41. ↑ "Nash TV To Debut January 26" from Radio Insight (January 20, 2015)
  42. ↑ http://www.countryweekly.com/news/country-weekly-changes-name-nash-country-weekly
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