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.

Nash logo

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
CallsignMHzCityMarketStart dateFormer nameNotes
KHKI97.3Des Moines, IowaDes Moines, IowaMay 24, 2013[3]"97.3 The Hawk"[3]
WPKR99.5Omro, WisconsinGreen Bay, Wisconsin[3]May 24, 2013[3]"99.5 & 104.9 The Wolf"[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
WYZB105.5Mary Esther, FloridaFort Walton Beach, FloridaFebruary 3, 2014[6]"105.5 The Wolf"[6]
WFBE95.1Flint, MichiganFlint, MichiganFebruary 3, 2014[6]"B95.1"[6]
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]
WZCY-FM93.5Mechanicsburg, PennsylvaniaHarrisburg, PennsylvaniaMarch 15, 2018"Hot 93.5"[8]

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] KQFC flipped to Soft AC in October 2019 and adopted the moniker Magic 97.9.
  • 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]
  • WVLK - Lexington, Kentucky - Launched Nash FM on May 24, 2013 but was dropped and rebranded as "K 92.9" on September 4th, 2020.[36]
  • KXKC - Lafayette, Louisiana - Launched Nash FM on September 6th, 2013 but was rebranded back to "99.1 KXKC" on September 4th, 2020.[37]
  • WHKR - Melbourne, Florida - Launched Nash FM on July 3, 2013 but was rebranded back as "102.7 The Hitkicker" on October 5th, 2020.[38]
  • WKAK - Albany, Georgia - Launched Nash FM on July 3, 2013 but was rebranded as "FM 104.5" shortly after the sale to First Media Services closed on December 18, 2020.

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).[39] 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.[40][41] In January 2015, Westwood One began to syndicate Nash Icon to non-Westwood One stations.[42]

The Nash Icon brand also includes a vanity label for veteran country artists operated in partnership with Big Machine Records.[39] 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.[43] 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)
WDRQ-HD293.1Detroit, MichiganDetroit, MichiganAugust 15, 2014"93-1 DRQ"Was Rhythmic Hot AC
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[44]"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.[45] The station also maintained a country music format known as "Great Country 104.9" before that.[46]
KTOP-FM102.9St. Marys, KansasTopeka, KansasDecember 22, 2015"102.9 Nash FM"Flipped from Nash FM to the Nash Icon format.[47]
KAMO94.3Rogers, ArkansasFayetteville, ArkansasJuly 3, 2016"94.3 Nash FM"Flipped from Nash FM to Nash Icon[48]
KARX107.1Canyon, TexasAmarillo, TexasJanuary 15, 2018"95.7 Nash Icon"Switched frequencies with 95.7 as 107.1 Nash Icon[49]
WRKN106.1Picayune, MississippiNew Orleans, LouisianaNovember 8, 2018"106.1 Nash FM"Dropped Nash FM branding to Nash Icon.[50]
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.[51]

List of non-Cumulus-owned Nash Icon stations
CallsignMHzCityMarketStart dateFormer nameNotes
WHHT103.7Cave City, KentuckyBowling Green, KentuckyFebruary 20, 2015[52]"HOWDY 103.7"
WKMO99.3Lebanon Junction, KentuckyLebanon Junction, KentuckyFebruary 20, 2015"KMO 99.3"
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"
KORL-FM107.5Waianae, HawaiiHonolulu, HawaiiJanuary 1, 2017"KPOP 107.5"
WWKY-FM104.9Providence, KentuckyProvidence, KentuckyApril 2, 2017"104.9 The Wave"
WABH1380Bath, New YorkElmira-Corning/Hornellunknown"1380/100.3 WABH"
WHLL1450Springfield, MassachusettsSpringfield, MassachusettsDecember 27, 2018"1450 The Hall"Flipped from Sports to Country as Nash Icon.[53] The station is now operated by Entercom since March 1, 2019.[54]

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.[55]
  • 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.[56]
  • 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.[57]
  • KRRF-Ventura, California. Joined the network on its August 15, 2014 debut. Flipped to classic hip hop on May 27, 2016.[58]
  • WOMG-Columbia, South Carolina. Flipped to classic hits on July 1, 2016.[59]
  • 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.[60]
  • KLSZ-FM-Fort Smith, Arkansas. Joined the network on its August 15, 2014 debut. Flipped to Nash FM brand on October 31, 2016.[61]
  • WELJ-New London, Connecticut. Bought by Bold Broadcasting and flipped to Christmas music on November 1, 2016.[62]
  • 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.[63]
  • WZAT-Savannah, Georgia. Joined the network on its August 15, 2014 debut. Flipped to Hot AC on March 24, 2017.[64]
  • 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-FM-Lexington, Kentucky. Flipped to Adult Hits as 101.5 Jack FM on February 20, 2018.[65]
  • 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.[66]
  • WLAW-Newaygo, Michigan. Switched frequencies with sister WWSN to 92.5 as "Sunny 92.5" on April 1, 2019.[67]
  • WOGT-Chattanooga, Tennessee. Dropped Nash Icon for Christmas music on November 5, 2020.[68] Shortly after stunting Christmas, the station rebranded as "New Country 107.9" on December 28, 2020.[69]

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."[70]

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's 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 (March 2, 2018). "Cumulus Completes Harrisburg Format Swap; Revamps Nash Lineup". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  9. Venta, Lance (January 21, 2013). "Cumulus Planning A National Country Brand". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  10. "Cumulus, Entercom Close Six-Station Swap". insideradio.com. May 13, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  11. Venta, Lance (February 13, 2019). "Cumulus Sells Six To EMF & Swaps With Entercom In New York & Indianapolis". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  12. Venta, Lance (March 25, 2019). "WNSH Relaunches as "New York's Country 94.7"". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  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
  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. "Wanted for Radio: More Country Greats". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  40. "Oldies 98.9 becomes older-skewing country NASH Icon 98.9". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Media Group. August 15, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  41. "Nash Icons launches across the country". Radio Insight. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  42. "Nash Icon Gets Syndicated; Debuts In Ocean City". Radio Insight. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  43. "Reba McEntire Becomes Nash Icon Music Label's Inaugural Signing". Billboard.com. October 21, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  44. WWFF Huntsville ends its journey & shifts to icon status
  45. WKOS shifts from Nash to Nash Icon
  46. Great Country Comes To Kingsport
  47. KTOP Shifts from Nash to Nash Icon
  48. Cumulus Snagged Fayetteville AR Morning Team To Launch Radio Jon/Deek
  49. Cumulus Amarillo Country Pair To Swap Frequencies
  50. Another Cumulus New Orleans Change
  51. WLAW & WWSN To Trade Places
  52. Nash Icon Brand spreads through Kentucky
  53. WHLL Brings Nash Icon To Springfield MA
  54. Cumulus Sells Six To EMF & Swaps With Entercom In New York & Indianapolis
  55. Alternative Underground Comes To Kansas City
  56. 99X Atlanta Returns
  57. South Stunt To Lead To Talk 99.5 Birmingham
  58. KRRF Spins The Wheel To Classic Hip-Hop "Spin-FM"
  59. WOMG Columbia Returns To Classic Hits
  60. Cumulus Snags Fayetteville AR Morning Team To Launch Radio Jon/Deek
  61. KLSZ Segues From Nash Icon To Nash
  62. WELJ Goes Christmas Under New Owners
  63. Saga Launches "92.7 C-Ville Country" Charlottesville
  64. 102.1 The Sound Launches In Savannah
  65. Jack-FM Debuts In Lexington
  66. KKOB Adds Full Powered FM Simulcast
  67. WLAW & WWSN To Trade Places
  68. WOGT Drops Country For Christmas
  69. Cumulus Debuts 107.9 Country In Chattanooga
  70. "Looking At The Nash Icons Launch" by Lance Venta from Radio Insight (August 17, 2014)
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