Beginning today, you or someone you know can start down the road of becoming America’s newest country star. The NASH Next 2016 competition officially launches today, bringing unknown talent, a major record label—Big Machine Label Group—and the power of country radio [Cumulus] together.

NASH Next is a national search competition aimed at discovering and releasing music from talented newcomers.

Aspiring artists can enter right here at nashcountrydaily.com or through your local Cumulus country stations (see list below). Contestants will be judged by Cumulus listeners and local music industry professionals in their communities. Finalists, and the 2016 winner, will be decided by country luminaries, Scott Borchetta, founder, president and CEO of Big Machine Label Group, Kix Brooks, of Brooks & Dunn and Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts, as well as one lucky Cumulus listener (To be determined).

NASH Next offers something different for competitors because the competition is led by Cumulus Media, radio’s dominant source for country music. “Internet, Twitter and everything else put together doesn’t equal what country radio does for us as artists, and as an industry,” said Kix Brooks.

The overall winner of this four-month-long national competition will be announced by country’s favorite redhead, Reba McEntire, and will receive a major label record deal with Big Machine Label Group as well as substantial radio play on Cumulus radio stations nationwide.

“Radio has been an essential — and joyous — part of my musical career for over four decades,” says Reba. “Cumulus is synonymous with country, so it’s the pitch perfect vehicle for this search. I’m honored to add my voice to this great project that will help usher in the next generation of country.”

How the Competition Works:

Beginning today, local artists may enter the competition via the NASH Next website (www.nashcountrydaily.com) and will be judged on three challenges, by three local music industry professionals, as well as listeners in their communities. First, artists will be asked to submit an original song. Next, contestants will be charged with adapting a popular song, with a new style. For the third challenge, contestants will be provided a phrase and tasked with writing a verse and chorus, using that lyric. Local markets will either host live events or select their finalist by judging the contestants from a video performance of an original song.

Local winners from each market will move on to the national challenge, submitting a live performance video showcasing their best original song. Of those, the top ten finalists are selected by country music legends and a lucky Cumulus listener. Those10 national finalists will then compete in a live concert event in Nashville, in late fall, where the NASH Next 2016 winner will be selected by the celebrity judging panel.

If you want to take part, or know of an act that deserves a shot at being America’s newest country star, enter today and let your journey to stardom begin.