This year's Country Radio Seminar was so much livelier than it has been within the last few years. Attendance, judged by someone like myself who doesn't actually participate in the official conference part, certainly felt increased over last year's.
We had a number of clients participating -- Vince Gill, as part of the UMG concert at the Ryman, Black River's Sarah Darling and Jeff Bates, and newcomers to this year's CRS Teea Goans, Jessica Ridley and Nathan Stanley. It is always such a blast to initiate a new artist to this event--to introduce them to all my old media friends. And then it's fun to escort an artist like Sarah Darling, who is now on her third CRS. Watching her evolve in the eyes of all the radio participants and media is truly rewarding.
When Vince walks on the stage anywhere, anytime, I am proud to have been involved in any aspect of his career development. His charisma and talent and ability to just consume the attention of everyone in the crowd, was evident at the UMG-hosted luncheon concert at the Ryman.
This is now, probably my 28th Country Radio Seminar, either as a publicist or as a reporter. Some are fun, some are just exhausting, but more often than not I can't help but walk away with a sense of satisfaction of what we (Norma, Alison and I) accomplished with our clients within the week, or what we've accomplished over the years as we've been a part in the development of so many great artists.
ERIN MORRIS
