From left, Academy of Country Music CEO and MTSU alum Pete Fisher; artists Ingrid Andress and Tenille Townes; MTSU Recording Industry Chair Beverly Keel; and artist Jimmie Allen. The artists were featured as part of the Change the Conversation event held April 6 in Las Vegas in advance of the ACM Awards. (MTSU photo by Andrew Oppmann)
LAS VEGAS — Chair of the Department of Recording Industry Beverly Keel helped lead an Academy of Country Music event in Las Vegas April 6 about the lack of gender equity in country radio.
ACM CEO and MTSU alum Pete Fisher asked Keel to bring her “Change the Conversation” presentation to the academy’s annual Radio Awards ceremony. The event gave Keel and her co-founders a chance to address radio executives directly to urge more airtime for female country artists.
“For five years, we’ve been holding meetings, we’ve sponsored research, we’ve held showcases — anything we could to share the word about how great music is by women,” Keel told the radio executives.
Change the Conversation was formed in 2014 by Keel, Leslie Fram and Tracy Gershon to fight gender inequality in country music. The organization funds research, mentors young women and hosts events to allow industry experts to share their insights with the group.
View a brief video of some of their remarks by clicking here.
“Change the Conversation wants to never have this conversation again,” said Gershon, an artist manager and music label vice president. “We want to work with radio to bring some of these great artists to the forefront.”
Student and faculty from MTSU’s College of Media and Entertainment were in Las Vegas and used the ACM Awards as a learning laboratory and taking the opportunity to connect with music industry executives.
The 54th ACM Awards aired from MGM Grand’s Garden Arena at 7 p.m. April 7 on CBS.
Thank you to MTSU News and Media Relations for this coverage.
The Leading Edge 
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