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Valerie Sickles is in her 16th year in radio. She says radio was her destiny. "I never intended radio as a career path. As a matter of fact, my career path has included TV, public affairs, event planning, and even working for a theatre company. Little did I know, I was being prepared for this beast we call radio and I wouldn’t have it any other way."

Country radio’s biggest event of the year, the Country Radio Seminar, kicks off today in downtown Nashville and Radio Ink will be there bringing you all the action. The three-day event kicks off with an opening ceremony at 3PM. Radio Ink and SONY will present the 2017 Best Country PD awards Thursday night at 6PM at SONY Nashville headquarters.

This is certainly out-of-the-box thinking at one of the country's coolest radio stations. KROQ, perhaps one of the most recognized Alternative Rock station in America, and DTS (the company that purchased HD Radio) have partnered, in a multi-year agreement, to create a series of intimate live shows featuring the biggest names in alternative rock.

Tonight iHeartMedia L.A. is launching The KFI Online Museum with Tim Conway Jr. in 3D, an interactive online 3D studio tour and scavenger hunt that provides a behind-the-scenes look at The Tim Conway Jr. Show (weeknights 6 – 10 p.m.).

KIAI-FM (Mason City, IA) raised $60,435 during their 11th Annual Country Moose Cares for St. Jude Kids Radiothon, which took place February 16-17. The staff broadcast live for 12 hours each day. The Country Moose has raised over $450,000 for St. Jude over the past 11 years.

CBS Radio Philadelphia Market Manager David Yadgaroff told Radio Ink, “Shelly has earned an important place in the country music industry, similar to the level of respect of a top artist." And we couldn't agree more. Shelly Easton has been chosen as Radio Ink's top Country Program Director for 2017.

As Nashville gears up for the Country Radio Seminar that begins Wednesday, Warner Music Nashville CEO John Esposito was interviewed by The Tennessean about the event. And, of course, the typical question about whether terrestrial radio had any power anymore was one of the questions asked by the reporter. The answer Esposito gave will not disappoint you.

Lorianne Crook & Charlie Chase were honored with the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award for their impact on country music during an event held Monday night at the Grand Ole Opry House. Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and Kingsley presented Crook & Chase with their award.

This one was in Portland and Rockland Maine on two frequencies owned by Binnie Media. WBACH flipped formats on 96.9 which is now Country, and 106.9, now a Rock station. WBACH had been Classical for over 25 years. Here are the two statements about the changes from Binnie Media.

More positive press for radio. This time it's from The New York Times and the topic is George Noory's overnight show, which is syndicated by Premiere. The 66-year-old Noory is now in his 14th year hosting Coast to Coast. The piece sprinkles in a little Art Bell history and comments from several callers. Noory told The Times that he is "a facilitator of the truth, wherever that takes us.”