The honchos at Cumulus Media hinted at it yesterday when they returned country radio to New York. This morning, they released a lot more detail about their plans to launch NASH, a country lifestyle brand that will comprise radio and television programming, a monthly magazine, a website, social media and concerts. Nashville venues look set to play a prominent role in the radio components of the brand's rollout while the magazine will be published by the same Modern Luxury team that puts out other lifestyle titles.

"Country is more than just music -- it's a lifestyle that is rich with content and marketing opportunities because Country is mass appeal and very much underserved in all forms of media,” said Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey. “Cumulus is committed to serving this significant lifestyle segment that stretches from coast-to-coast by creating a full complement of content on the radio, in print, online and on TV."

Cumulus Media is making a big splash in the New York media scene today with the launch of 94.7 Nash FM, which is already being billed as "The World's Biggest Country Station" and the cornerstone of a national brand for the Atlanta-based broadcaster. What that latter thought will mean down the road — it looks like other media formats could be involved — isn't yet clear. In the meantime, here's the station's website.

Didn't catch the show today, so this may be old news, but check this graf from Steve Gill's Web site [emphasis mine]:

Additionally, Steve Gill is an attorney and former host of the Steve Gill Show, an influential radio talk show in Tennessee.

Cumulus Media and American Media have joined together to offer a new radio segment: "News From Country Weekly Magazine."

The segments, originally hosted by LISA MANNING on CUMULUS Country WSM-F/NASHVILLE, feature stories from COUNTRY WEEKLY and will air multiple times in morning and afternoon drive time.

"This partnership presents a unique opportunity to give our audience an in-depth and 'insider' look at Country music news reports, programs, features and interviews, drawing upon COUNTRY MUSIC MEDIA GROUP's extensive newsgathering expertise, contacts and editorial strengths," said DAVID J. PECKER, Chairman, President and CEO of AMERICAN MEDIA, INC. 

"As the nation's number one broadcaster of Country music, we're committed to entertaining and informing our listener in creative ways that continue to make CUMULUS stations important parts of the communities they serve," said  CUMULUS COO/EVP JOHN DICKEY.