These Are The 2024 New Faces Of Country Music
These five artists will have the opportunity to showcase their talent during New Faces of Country Music® Show at CRS 2024.
George Birge, Dillon Carmichael, Corey Kent, Megan Moroney, Conner Smith; Photos Provided
The lineup for the New Faces of Country Music Show at CRS 2024 is officially here. According to a recent announcement by the Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB), George Birge, Dillon Carmichael, Corey Kent, Megan Moroney and Conner Smith will all take the stage to perform during this year’s showcase on Friday, March 1.
While reflecting on this year’s Class of 2024, Chuck Aly, CRS New Faces Committee Chairman, shared, “With five of 2023’s top 10 airplay artists earning that distinction for the first time, there’s no doubt country music is surging at every level. The 2024 New Faces class is another prime example, and yet one more reason to look forward to the country industry’s most important B2B event – CRS.”
Since its inception in 1970, a group of emerging artists have been selected each year based off their success at country radio during the qualification period, which this year spanned from November 1, 2022, to October 31, 2023. In celebration of their achievements, the final lineup of artists are given the platform to display their chart-topping tunes at the annual showcase, thus offering them a room full of support on their continued journeys.
Co-partnered by the Academy of Country Music and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, this star-studded event for industry insiders has taken place during the annual Country Radio Seminar (CRS) for over five decades. The same will go for the 2024 Country Radio Seminar, which will be held from February 28 to March 1, 2024 at the Omni Nashville Hotel.
Tickets for the New Faces of Country Music show are available for $100 when you purchase a full registration for CRS 2024. To purchase a ticket, please visit the CRS 2024 Registration page.
Get To Know The Class Of 2024:
George Birge (Records Nashville)
A lot has changed for George Birge since he released his fan-favorite song “Mind On You” to streaming platforms in November of 2021. Upon its impact to airwaves, the tune landed him the No. 1 most-added song at Country radio and quickly began climbing the charts. Eventually, he proudly shared with fans that this tune marked his first top 15 at country radio. Co-penned by Birge with Jaron Boyer, Michael Tyler and Colt Ford, “Mind On You” later appeared as the title track to Birge’s debut album.
Dillon Carmichael (Riser House)
In October of 2021, Dillon Carmichael released his tear-jerking single, “Son of A.” The tune penned by Carmichael with Casey Beathard and Phil O’Donnell marked the emerging artist’s third single to radio in under five years after being signed to Sony-distributed Riser House Entertainment. It also inspired the name of his 2021 full-length album, which was later expanded as a deluxe project. Listeners were quick to draw a connection to the storyline as it pays tribute to loved ones who played an impactful role in your life. “Son of A” is currently top-30 on the Mediabase Country Airplay chart and continues climbing.
Corey Kent (SMN/RCA)
Corey Kent was coming off a major career shift when he landed his first-ever No. 1 hit on Country radio with “Wild As Her.” He had just walked away from his job at a pavement company, signed a major record deal and was ready to dive headfirst back into music. The fan-favorite single serves as the leading track to Kent’s latest album, Blacktop. It has made huge waves in his career, as it earned him his first-ever entry onto the Billboard Hot 100, reached No. 15 on the Hot Country Songs Chart, and was certified Platinum by the RIAA.
Megan Moroney (SMN/Columbia)
Megan Moroney broke out into the country music scene at a rapid pace, thanks to her viral sensation, “Tennessee Orange.” The song, which Moroney co-wrote with Ben Williams, David Fanning, and Paul Jenkins, claimed the top spot on the Country Aircheck/Mediabase Country Airplay chart the week of June 20, 2023. Her debut single not only became Moroney’s first No. 1 at Country radio, but it also earned her an RIAA Platinum certification, a win for CMT Breakthrough Female Video of the Year, and led her to sign with Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records. The tune lives on the rising female star’s debut album Lucky, alongside her self-assured anthem, “I’m Not Pretty,” which impacted Country radio airwaves as the No. 1 most-added single.
Conner Smith (Valory Music)
Conner Smith saw a major shift in his career after earning his first-ever top 20 hit at country radio with the sultry love song, “Creek Will Rise.” Smith, alongside co-writers Chris LaCorte, Chase McGill, and Parker Welling, formed the narrative that illustrates an evening under the stars with his love interest that takes a romantic turn after getting caught in the rain together. “Creek Will Rise” became such a fan-favorite during Smith’s shows that he decided to further captured the hard-hitting energy with a live version recorded during his first hometown headlining show in Nashville, TN. As a result of its rapid success, Smith reveals that the tune will serve as the lead single of his yet-to-be-announced debut album.
Written by
Madeleine O’Connell
Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.