February 16, 2021, Issue 743
Welcome To The Clubhouse
The newest social media platform at the center of conversation – literally – is Clubhouse, an invite- and audio-only app still in beta testing but growing exponentially each day. Founded in 2020 in Silicon Valley, and still only available to iPhone users, Clubhouse has grown from approximately 3,500 members in December to more than six million currently. Early adopters have included those in the tech industry, celebrities – including Oprah and Ashton Kutcher – and music industry professionals. Country Aircheck spoke to a few heavy users for their take on the platform’s relevance to country music and Country radio. Big Loud/Maverick artist manager Marc Rucker shares a not atypical discovery story. “I found out about Clubhouse through Marc Rucker an artist who had been on,” he says. “He told me he spent three hours the night before talking music with DeadMau5 and other industry professionals, so it immediately piqued my interest.” Since his initial log-on, Rucker finds himself spending time on the app daily, whether tuning in as a listener while commuting or devoting three- to four-hour chunks of time engaged in networking and professional development conversations. “The platform currently has a lot of independent creatives looking for advice, networking and sharing projects ... and I’m excited for it to open to more people who will bring in more topics, ideas and ways to use the platform,” he says. Many Nashville-based creatives have utilized the platform for socializing, even scheduling sessions named for the popular local watering hole The Red Door Saloon. Safe In Sound: The appeal of the app, for many, is threefold. Clubhouse is audio-only, connecting people without the need for decorative backgrounds or combed hair required by now-daily video conferences. The conversation-based nature and requirements to list your legal name in your profile also serve to deescalate many situations that could lead to more aggressive name-calling and “keyboard warrior” posturing via text-based platforms like Facebook and Twitter. (continued on page 8)
Prova-loan: WNCY/Appleton-Green Bay, WI staffers reveal their Y100 Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Radiothon amount. Pictured (l-r) are Dan Stone, Charli McKenzie, Hannah, Shotgun Shannon, Luke Reid and PJ.
CRS Liners: Back To The Future?
As CRS 2021: The Virtual Experience kicked off today (2/16), attendees have had the opportunity to explore the platform’s added benefits, which include viewing or re-watching sessions in an on-demand setting. And beyond the expected educational panels, workshops, networking opportunities and musical performances, CRS is offering yet another added benefit for this year’s attendees – audio and video content from multiple artists for use on-air and online. For those familiar with the artist liners of RJ Curtis yesteryear, well, this isn’t that. In fact, CRB Exec. Dir. RJ Curtis says it’s better. “We’ve worked with most of the major labels in town to bring together dozens of audio liners from their full rosters of artists and compiled those in one place for radio to access,” Curtis says.
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