Will Evans Named One of Five Emerging Regional Rock Artists to Advance in Next2Rock 2017
Finale Event Will Be Streamed Live at www.next2rock.com starting at 8:30 pm PT
Cumulus Media’s neXt2rock — a National and Local Grassroots Search for America’s Newest Rock Star — to Guarantee Winning Artist Major Label Recording Contract and Opportunity for National Radio Play
New London, CT – Cumulus Media and 102.3 The Wolf (WMOS) announced today the names of the five (5) Rock music artists selected as finalists in neXt2rock, a one-of-a-kind national grassroots talent search and artist development program for Rock music. Will Evans has been chosen to represent New London as one of the 5 neXt2rock national finalists.
Will Evans will perform at the neXt2rock 2017 finale event at the famed Viper Room in Los Angeles, CA, on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, from 8:00pm-11:00pm PT. The finale event will be streamed live at www.next2rock.com, starting at 8:30 pm PT. Music personality and longtime radio and TV host Matt Pinfield will host the evening’s festivities.
“We are so thrilled that Will Evans will be representing the New London market and Classic Rock 102.3 The Wolf in Los Angeles at the Next2Rock finale! Will is an extremely talented individual, and we can’t wait to see him play at the Viper Room in front of some of the biggest names in the rock music industry.” – Jessica Vargas, VP/Market Manager
The five national finalists, selected by a panel of Rock radio professionals, are:
These five emerging artists will be judged in the finale by Rock music luminaries and industry professionals, including: Big Machine Label Group President & CEO Scott Borchetta; Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale; fashion designer and record label head John Varvatos; Sex Pistols' guitarist and host of “Jonesy’s Jukebox” Steve Jones; musician, songwriter and producer Desmond Child, and engineer/mixer Chris Lord-Alge.
Mike McVay, executive vice president, Content & Programming for Cumulus Media and Westwood One, said: “The artists who entered this year’s neXt2rock competition are incredibly talented. Given this type of talent we are extremely excited for the future of Rock music. Any one of these artists could win and any one of these artists could be the next Rock superstar — that’s what this competition is all about!”
The winner of this four-month-long experience will receive a record deal with Big Machine/John Varvatos Records, as well as substantial exposure, commensurate with a major label release, on Cumulus radio stations nationwide.
neXt2rock2017 is Cumulus Media's second installment of its "Next" franchise, which was launched in 2015 with NASH Next, the successful country version of the competition. While television boasts several talent competitions, the "Next" franchise platform is the first radio broadcaster to offer its winners coveted radio play, which is the most effective medium to cultivate an artist and propel a major music career.
Rock is Thriving
Across radio, one out of every three (33%) Americans listens to rock music weekly. The rising popularity of the rock genre can be attributed to a younger audience coming to the format, with Millennials making up more than 30% of weekly listeners. (Source: Nielsen Audio Fall 2016)
Cumulus reaches over 245 million listeners weekly, and is home to some of radio's most iconic rock stations, including KLOS, KQRS, WLUP, KATT, WGRF and KSAN — all of which were recently included in Radio Ink's list of the Greatest AOR Stations of All Time.
For more information about the neXt2rock 2017 finalists and the finale event on December 12 at The Viper Room, in Los Angeles, and to hear some of the finalists’ music, please visit: www.next2rock.com.
Sponsors
neXt2rock 2017 is sponsored nationally by Tile, the world's best-selling Bluetooth tracker, and local by The Social Kitchen+Bar in New London.
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Steve Jones
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About Cumulus Media
A leader in the radio broadcasting industry, Cumulus Media (OTCQX: CMLS) combines high-quality local programming with iconic, nationally syndicated media, sports and entertainment brands to deliver premium content choices to the 245 million people reached each week through its 446 owned-and-operated stations broadcasting in 90 US media markets (including eight of the top 10), approximately 8,000 broadcast radio stations affiliated with its Westwood One network and numerous digital channels. Together, the Cumulus/Westwood One platforms make Cumulus Media one of the few media companies that can provide advertisers with national reach and local impact. Cumulus/Westwood One is the exclusive radio broadcast partner to some of the largest brands in sports, entertainment, news, and talk, including the NFL, the NCAA, the Masters, the Olympics, the GRAMMYs, the Academy of Country Music Awards, the American Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, Westwood One News, and more. Additionally, it is the nation's leading provider of country music and lifestyle content through its NASH brand, which serves country fans nationwide through radio programming, exclusive digital content, and live events. For more information, visit www.cumulus.com.
Cumulus Broadcasting
Jessica Vargas General Manager
Mentor Judges Gavin Rossdale, Scott Borchetta, John Varvatos, Steve Jones, Desmond Child and Chris Lord-Alge to Determine Winner at Los Angeles’ Famed Viper Room