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 Nash FM branding is similar to the Hank FM branding in that these stations play over 1000 songs as opposed to other stations which play 300 to 600 songs.

Nash logo

The brand launched in 2013 with the launch of WNSH (now Classic Hip-Hop formatted WXBK) 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
CallsignMHzCityMarketStart dateFormer nameNotes
KHKI97.3Des Moines, IowaDes Moines, IowaMay 24, 2013[3]"97.3 The Hawk"[3]
WSJR93.7Dallas, PennsylvaniaScranton, Pennsylvania [4]July 3, 2013[4]"Great Country 93.7"[4] ("JR 93.7" before that)
WMDH-FM102.5New Castle, IndianaMuncie, Indiana[5]September 6, 2013[5]"Hit Country 102.5 WMDH"[5]
WLFF106.5Georgetown, South CarolinaGrand Strand / Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaSeptember 6, 2013[5]"106.5 The Coyote"
KBBM100.1Jefferson City, MissouriColumbia, MissouriOctober 7, 2013"Sports Radio 100.1 The Fan"Formerly sports talk
WKOR-FM94.9Columbus, MississippiColumbus, MississippiFebruary 3, 2014[6]"K-94.9"[6]
WXTA97.9Edinboro, PennsylvaniaErie, PennsylvaniaFebruary 3, 2014[6]"Country 98"[6]
KNSH100.7Fort Smith, ArkansasFort Smith, ArkansasOctober 31, 2016"100.7 Nash Icon"[7]

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).[45] 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.[46][47] In January 2015, Westwood One began to syndicate Nash Icon to non-Westwood One stations.[48]

The Nash Icon brand also includes a vanity label for veteran country artists operated in partnership with Big Machine Records.[45] 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.[49] 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
WJBC-FM93.7Pontiac, IllinoisBloomington-Normal, IllinoisAugust 15, 20141230 AM/93.7 FM, WJBCWas previously a simulcast of News/Talk WJBC.
KQLK97.9De Ridder, LouisianaLake Charles, LouisianaAugust 15, 2014“Hot 97.9”Was Top 40 (CHR)
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
WWFF-FM93.3New Market, AlabamaHuntsville, AlabamaNovember 14, 2014[50]"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.[51] The station also maintained a country music format known as "Great Country 104.9" before that.[52]
KAMO-FM94.3Rogers, ArkansasFayetteville, ArkansasJuly 3, 2016"94.3 Nash FM"Flipped from Nash FM to Nash Icon[53]
KARX107.1Canyon, TexasAmarillo, TexasJanuary 15, 2018"95.7 Nash Icon"Switched frequencies with 95.7 as 107.1 Nash Icon[54]
WRKN106.1Picayune, MississippiNew Orleans, LouisianaNovember 8, 2018"106.1 Nash FM"Dropped Nash FM branding to Nash Icon.[21]
WLAW97.5Whitehall, Michigan Muskegon, MichiganApril 1, 2019"Sunny FM"Switched frequencies with sister WLAW on 92.5 to 97.5 as 97.5 Nash Icon.[55]

List of non-Cumulus-owned Nash Icon stations
CallsignMHzCityMarketStart dateFormer nameNotes
WHHT103.7Cave City, KentuckyBowling Green, KentuckyFebruary 20, 2015[56]"HOWDY 103.7"
WYRY104.9Hinsdale, New HampshireHinsdale, New HampshireAugust 3, 2015"Hot Country 104.9"
WXKU-FM92.7Austin, IndianaAustin, IndianaSeptember 15, 2015"Kix 92.7"
KGIL98.5Ridgecrest, CaliforniaRidgecrest, CaliforniaFebruary 18, 2016"98.5 Nash Icon"
WWKY-FM104.9Providence, KentuckyProvidence, KentuckyApril 2, 2017"104.9 The Wave"
WILE1270Cambridge, OhioCambridge, OhioApril 13, 2018"107.9 Nash Icon"
WABH1380Bath, New YorkElmira-Corning/Hornellunknown"1380/100.3 WABH"

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 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."[77]

References
  1. "NashTV To Debut January 26". RadioInsight. 2015-01-20. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  2. Ross, Sean (March 23, 2015). "Country Radio Goes Pop: How Formats Shift When Genres Cross". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  3. 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 is unclear whether the article originally referred to May 23 or some other date.
  4. Venta, Lance (July 3, 2013). "Cumulus' NashFM Expansion Continues". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  5. Venta, Lance (September 6, 2013). "Cumulus Launches Six More Nash-FM's". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  6. "Cumulus Adds 11 More NashFM's". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. February 3, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  7. Venta, Lance (October 31, 2016). "KLSZ Segues From Nash Icon To Nash". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks.
  8. Venta, Lance (January 21, 2013). "Cumulus Planning A National Country Brand". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  9. "Cumulus, Entercom Close Six-Station Swap". insideradio.com. May 13, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  10. Venta, Lance (February 13, 2019). "Cumulus Sells Six To EMF & Swaps With Entercom In New York & Indianapolis". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  11. Venta, Lance (March 25, 2019). "WNSH Relaunches as "New York's Country 94.7"". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  12. Venta, Lance (October 22, 2021). "Audacy Launches 94.7 The Block New York". radioinsight.com. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  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. @radsiu (21 June 2018). "FINALLY!! #KNBR on FM. 107.7 HD2 @KNBR @KRON4GRadnich @sportslarryknbr @byronjr23" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. Another Cumulus New Orleans Change
  22. 96.9 Nash-FM Charleston Returns To Wolf Identity; Flips To Christmas Music
  23. WBBL Flips To Country As Thunder Returns To Grand Rapids
  24. Nash Takes Left Turn Into Albuquerque
  25. WNNF Cincinnati Drops Nash For Cat Country
  26. WPCK Becomes Christmas 104.9 Ahead Of EMF Sale
  27. WFYR Returns To River Country Identity
  28. Nash Comes To Detroit
  29. WDRQ Detroit Revamps As New Country 93.1
  30. WXBM Pensacola Drops Nash FM Branding
  31. Cumulus Nash FM Expansion Continues
  32. KAYD Drops Nash-FM Identity
  33. Nash Icon Launches In Chattanooga; Three More Stations Rebrand As Nash-FM
  34. Cat Country Returns To Colorado Spring
  35. WKDF Rebrands As 103.3 Country
  36. 92.9 Lexington Drops Nash Branding To Return To Its Heritage
  37. KXKC Drops Nash FM Branding
  38. WHKR Returns To The Hitkicker
  39. WKAK Revamps As Georgia 104.5; Adds Bud & Broadway for Mornings
  40. WFBE Drops Nash To Return To B95 Identity
  41. WPKR Drops Nash FM Identity
  42. Cumulus Completes Harrisburg Format Swap; Revamps Nash Lineup
  43. WTPA Returns To Harrisburg
  44. WYZB Drops Nash For Y105.5 Branding
  45. "Wanted for Radio: More Country Greats". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  46. "Oldies 98.9 becomes older-skewing country NASH Icon 98.9". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Media Group. August 15, 2014. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  47. "Nash Icons launches across the country". Radio Insight. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  48. "Nash Icon Gets Syndicated; Debuts In Ocean City". Radio Insight. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  49. "Reba McEntire Becomes Nash Icon Music Label's Inaugural Signing". Billboard.com. October 21, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  50. WWFF Huntsville ends its journey & shifts to icon status
  51. WKOS shifts from Nash to Nash Icon
  52. Great Country Comes To Kingsport
  53. Cumulus Snagged Fayetteville AR Morning Team To Launch Radio Jon/Deek
  54. Cumulus Amarillo Country Pair To Swap Frequencies
  55. WLAW & WWSN To Trade Places
  56. Nash Icon Brand spreads through Kentucky
  57. Alternative Underground Comes To Kansas City
  58. 99X Atlanta Returns
  59. South Stunt To Lead To Talk 99.5 Birmingham
  60. KRRF Spins The Wheel To Classic Hip-Hop "Spin-FM"
  61. WOMG Columbia Returns To Classic Hits
  62. Cumulus Snags Fayetteville AR Morning Team To Launch Radio Jon/Deek
  63. KLSZ Segues From Nash Icon To Nash
  64. WELJ Goes Christmas Under New Owners
  65. Saga Launches "92.7 C-Ville Country" Charlottesville
  66. 102.1 The Sound Launches In Savannah
  67. Jack-FM Debuts In Lexington
  68. KKOB Adds Full Powered FM Simulcast
  69. WOGT Drops Country For Christmas
  70. Cumulus Debuts 107.9 Country In Chattanooga
  71. Smooth Jazz Returns To Honolulu
  72. WHLL Brings Nash Icon To Springfield MA
  73. Cumulus Sells Six To EMF & Swaps With Entercom In New York & Indianapois
  74. WHLL Enters The Hall Of Fame
  75. KTOP-FM Shifts From Nash To Nash Icon
  76. Cat Country Is On The Prowl In Topeka
  77. "Looking At The Nash Icons Launch" by Lance Venta from Radio Insight (August 17, 2014)
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