After Westwood One announced it would cease distribution of Country Countdown USA at the end of this month as part of its recent cutbacks, the Lon Helton helmed show will move to Compass Media Networks starting August 1.
Launched in 1992, the three hour weekly countdown features Helton and a guest Country artist each week to count down the top 30 songs of the week.
Country Countdown USA with Lon Helton enters its 30th year in Syndication with Compass Media Networks. The three-hour weekly show recorded each week from Music Row in Nashville with host Lon Helton has been a staple on heritage Country radio stations since its inception in 1992. Each week Lon is joined by a different country star co-host while they count down the week’s Top 30 hits.
Lon is a prominent figure in Country Radio as host of Country Countdown USA, publisher of Country Aircheck and editor of the Mediabase Country Chart. Lon is a member of the Board of Directors of the Country Music Association and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Lon has been named CMA National Personality of the Year an astounding 11 times in the awards 22-year history (winners are not eligible to be nominated 2 years in a row) and the Academy of Country Music has bestowed its’ equivalent award 6 times in the last 12 years. Lon was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2006.
Lon Helton comments, “Country Countdown USA has had an amazing run of more than 30 years and more than 20 major awards with Westwood One. Many thanks to everyone there- present and past- for everything. Having worked with Peter in the past, I know that Compass Media Networks and the great team he has assembled is the perfect place to continue the legacy of Country’s most listened-to and most unique Country Countdown.”
“With open arms, humility, and much excitement, we welcome Lon Helton, his team, his audience, and his affiliates to Compass Media Networks,” says Peter Kosann, CEO Compass Media Networks. “This is a homecoming in that Lon and I had the pleasure of working together years ago — it is an absolute thrill to be reunited together again.”
Country Countdown USA joins Compass Media Networks established roster of Country programs including The Big D & Bubba Show, Taste of Country Nights, Honky Tonkin’ with Tracy Lawrence, The Original Country Gold with Rowdy Yates, The Country Club with Dee Jay Silver, and Y’all Access with Kelly Sutton.
Affiliates of the show and those interested in finding out more are encouraged to contact Doug Ingold dingold@compassmedianetworks.com (310) 904-3864. The show will transition without a hitch and Lon’s first three co-hosts for August are Kane Brown, Maren Morris, and Chris Young!
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com