Country Update BILLBOARD.COM/NEWSLETTERS FEBRUARY 22, 2021 | PAGE 1 OF 20 INSIDE BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
[email protected] Taylor Swift’s Country Radio Seminar Addresses ‘Love Story’ Epilogue Page 4 A Virtual Pack Of Problems Country Radio Seminar may have been experienced by radio broadcasts, a larger number than any other single source, CRS Has Tigers attendees in the isolation of their own homes or offices — though when the individual digital platforms — Amazon Music, By The Tail thanks, COVID-19 — but there were plenty of elephants YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify and Pandora — are combined, Page 10 crowding the room. they account for 60% of first-time exposure, more than double The pandemic, for one, reared its head in just about every terrestrial’s turf. The difference is even more pronounced among panel discussion or showcase conversation during the conven- adults aged 18-24, who will be among country’s core listeners tion, held Feb. 16-19. The issue of country’s racial disparities — in the next decade. Brad Paisley On keyed by a series of national incidents since May and accelerated “That hurt our heart a little bit,” said KNCI Sacramento, Jeannie Seely’s Moxie by Morgan Wallen’s use of a racial slur in February — spurred Calif., PD Joey Tack, “but if we don’t hear that, how are we Page 11 one of the most dis- going to adapt?” cussed panels in the Strategies are conference’s history certainly available. as Maren Morris They include better FGL, Johnny Cash and Luke Combs educating listeners Take TPAC Country challenged country about how to find Page 11 to improve its per- their station on digi- formance.