Announced last month as part of an expanded contract with Bobby Bones, iHeartMedia will debut “Women of iHeartCountry” this weekend.
The hour-long show, hosted by Bones and Amy Brown, will air on 125 of iHeartMedia’s Country stations. It will feature music from established female artists and “promising up-and-comers”, with weekly guest spots by other iHeartMedia female on-air personalities. Country artists Danielle Bradbery will appear on the inaugral program.
This Labor Day weekend, iHeartMedia and Bobby Bones will launch “Women of iHeartCountry,” an hour-long, weekend program devoted exclusively to female artists. Executive produced and hosted by Bones, along with co-host Amy Brown, the show will feature music from both established female artists and promising up-and-comers, with weekly guest appearances by other iHeartMedia female on-air personalities. Listeners can tune-in to the show on 125 iHeartCountry stations nation-wide beginning Saturday (check local listings), as well as on the iHeartRadio app. Recognized as “influential” (USA Today) and as a “tastemaker” (Yahoo), Bones continues to champion new and established artists alike, and will reveal details about the inaugural show with special guest Danielle Bradbery on Instagram.
Dubbed “The most powerful man in Country music” (Forbes), Bobby Bones is an unstoppable force who continues to create opportunities for the artists and music he believes in.
“This weekend show is another example of iHeartCountry stations and program directors providing platforms that support female artists and voices,” said Rod Phillips, SVP of Programming and Brand Manager for iHeartCountry. “Women of iHeartCountry is an extension of efforts like our On The Verge program where we have shined a spotlight on artists such as Cam, Carly Pearce, Maren Morris and Lauren Alaina as future stars in the Country format.”
“Bobby has changed our format for the better in so many ways,” added Lauren Alaina. “He has been a champion for so many people who really need someone in their corner. I am so thankful to be one of those people. I am so excited for his Women of iHeartCountry show. There are so many amazingly talented women in our format that are going to be able to shine their light a little brighter because he believes in them. I am so proud to be a part of his new show, and I’m even more proud to be his friend. He’s a really special guy.”
“Bobby has always been such a huge supporter of my music and of female artists on Country radio,” premiere week special guest Danielle Bradbery noted. “He was one of the first people to play my new single ‘Goodbye Summer.’ Creating this incredible platform for female voices really speaks to his character. I’m so grateful that champions like Bobby and this iHeartMedia show exist.”
The new show comes as part of Bones’ recently expanded relationship with iHeartMedia. As part of the new deal, Bones also earned the title of Vice President, Creative Director of iHeartCountry and will work with iHeartMedia on additional joint ventures and new creative programming initiatives. With a “fiercely devoted following” (Washington Post) tuning into his nationally syndicated radio show, The Bobby Bones Show broadcasts to nearly 140 stations and is the #1 Country morning show with millions of listeners each week. The show recently garnered its third ACM Award for National On-Air Personality of the Year, a 2017 Country Music Association award for National Broadcast Personality of the Year and earned Bones the title of youngest ever inductee into the prestigious National Radio Hall of Fame. The “media multitasker” (Billboard) also launched his own podcast, BobbyCast, which features candid long-form interviews with top artists and industry figures and has been downloaded more than 6 million times. The podcast’s overwhelming success has paved the way for Bones to launch the Nashville Podcast Network, an eclectic collection of podcasts from a variety of Nashville-savvy hosts, giving listeners an inside look at the lifestyle and pop culture in Nashville. With his undeniable knack for recognizing and supporting new talent, Bones brought his expertise to the latest season of ABC’s American Idol as a mentor. Bones is also a two-time New York Times #1 bestselling author, touring stand-up comedian, philanthropist and chart-topping comedy artist – a true “jack of all trades” (ESPN). Visit https://bobbybones.iheart.com for more information.
I still doubt that there’s a direct connection, but it has crossed my mind: Ottawa’s CKBY has just launched a daily “Girl Power Hour” between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.–leading in to the station’s broadcast of Bobby Bones. A CP write-up about that move is at, among other places, https://nationalpost.com/pmn/entertainment-pmn/girl-power-hour-ottawa-radio-station-dedicates-full-weeknight-hour-to-women.