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AARON LEWIS has been resoundingly welcomed into the Nashville community as his debut solo CD TOWN LINE enters the Billboard Country Albums Chart at #1. The Staind frontman’s critically acclaimed EP, produced by Grammy Award-winner James Stroud, also lands at #7 on the Top 200 Albums Chart, with first week sales exceeding 37,000 copies. The success of TOWN LINE is being fueled by the lead single and video “Country Boy,” currently a fixture on CMT’s “Top 20 Countdown” show. The singer, songwriter and musician performed “Country Boy” March 1 on ABC-TV’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” in Los Angeles, after which LEWIS flew to Nashville to perform at the annual Country Radio Seminar (CRS). TOWN LINE has drawn critical praise from a wide variety of writers, including COUNTRY WEEKLY’s Jessica Phillips who said, "The songs here are rich with imagery, coupled with soulful arrangements, and should appeal to fans of Darius Rucker and Lady Antebellum (3/7/11)." PEOPLE’s Chuck Arnold noted that "He proves to be a natural on nostalgic ballads like 'The Story Never Ends,’ (3/14/11)," while ASSOCIATED PRESS’ Michael McCall wrote, “He injects a flavor of his own into a polished, commercial country sound in a way that could win over country fans who've never heard of Staind (2/28/11).” (See more critical quotes below.) Talking about LEWIS’ warm welcome from the country world, James Stroud says: “This town appreciates great songs and great talent and Aaron certainly brings both of those to the table, but a #1 record is more than we let ourselves dream about when we were making the record. We just couldn't be more thrilled." On “Country Boy,” LEWIS gets a little help from legends George Jones and Charlie Daniels, striking a balance between classic and modern country, as LEWIS tells his story like never before. Ahead of the official single release, “Country Boy” generated widespread airplay, with various rock and country stations adding it to their playlists on their own. The striking video for “Country Boy”--also featuring George Jones and Charlie Daniels--debuted at #1 on the CMT.com chart and has received over 900,000 views to date. The video still regularly charts on the Top 5 of all videos on the website over three months after its debut. It has now been viewed over 2.7 million times on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsQzw_Ax8Cw. Meanwhile, critical praise for TOWN LINE is building: “He injects a flavor of his own into a polished, commercial country sound in a way that could win over country fans who've never heard of Staind…‘The Story Never Ends’ pairs a melodic guitar riff with a steel-guitar counterpoint while celebrating the laid-back small town in Massachusetts where Lewis resides. He uses specific names and details, but the intimate portrait will resonate with anyone who has established lasting roots where they were born.” --Michael McCall, ASSOCIATED PRESS, February 28, 2011 "The songs here are rich with imagery, coupled with soulful arrangements, and should appeal to fans of Darius Rucker and Lady Antebellum." --Jessica Phillips, COUNTRY WEEKLY, March 7, 2011 "He proves to be a natural on nostalgic ballads like 'The Story Never Ends.'" --PEOPLE, March 14, 2011 “Lewis turns in convincing performances and holds steadfast next to legends George Jones and Charlie Daniels on ‘Country Boy.’ ‘Vicious Circles’ is a moody ballad with plenty of steel guitar sting.” --- Mario Tarradell, DALLAS MORNING NEWS, March 1, 2011 “…Town Line is as country as country gets…Poignant and affecting, yet also unflinching in its portrayals, Town Line is an impassioned solo debut with the kind of authenticity with which Lewis has always been associated. A country boy indeed.” --Kevin O’Hare, SPRINGFIELD (MA) REPUBLICAN, February 27, 2011 "Aaron Lewis redefines Americana with his first solo offering, Town Line…The five-song EP sees the Staind frontman penning some of the best, brightest, and most brilliant songs of his illustrious career to date. Lewis transforms classic Americana with his gritty and direct songwriting, some touches of country, and a whole lot of heart…This is the first must-have record of 2011. It also further solidifies Lewis as one of the most talented and important songwriters of this generation and beyond." --Rick Florino, ARTISTDIRECT.COM, February 25, 2011 Look for LEWIS to continue his tour of solo acoustic dates his freewheeling acoustic shows (which he has been performing for the past few years in tandem with his continuing role in Staind) have earned him rave reviews. http://aaronlewismusic.com/ www.myspace.com/aaronlewismusic

(Nashville, Tenn. – March 1, 2011)  Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. has announced its 2011 Radio Promotion Award winners.  Given out each year at Country Radio Seminar, the awards are presented to stations in the Large, Medium and Small Market categories. 

Large Market Winner:  KUPL / Portland, Ore.
KUPL’s “Free Money Friday” paired two of the station’s advertising clients to create a successful cross-promotion.  Customers who picked up KUPL bumper stickers at one client location would receive a text message directing them to the second client’s promotion and location, where customers could win up to $500.  The promotion generated increased sales for the clients and doubled the radio station’s texting database.   

Medium Market Winner: WQMX / Akron, Ohio
WQMX utilized the power of social networking to conduct its “Zac Brown Look-A-Like Contest” in the summer of 2010.  Listeners submitted photos through the station’s Facebook page for a chance to win front row seats and a backstage “eat and greet” with the Zac Brown Band.

Small Market Winner:  KZPK / St. Cloud, Minn.
In 2010, KZPK staged its biggest benefit concert ever during Central Minnesota’s summer FireFest event.  The show featured performances from Little Big Town, Emerson Drive and Bomshel, raising more than $50,000 for the city of Cold Spring’s Fire and Rescue Relief Association.

The Radio Promotion Awards will be presented during the “90 Executable Ideas in 50 Minutes” panel on Thursday, March 3, inside the Nashville Convention Center.

Stations are judged on the creativity and implementation of their promotions, held from Nov. 1, 2009 – Dec. 31, 2010.  Winners are evaluated on promotion objective, presentation style, effect on cume and overall success of the promotion.  

Radio Promotion Award winners receive a free trip to Country Radio Seminar, including airfare (up to $500 of actual cost), hotel accommodations and registration fees. 

About CRB:
Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. ® is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization founded in 1969 to bring radio broadcasters from around the world together with the Country Music Industry to ensure vitality and promote growth in the Country Radio format.  More information may be obtained at:www.CRB.org or at the CRB office at (615) 327-4487.

About CRS:
The Country Radio Seminar is an annual convention designed to educate and promote the exchange of ideas in the Country music industry.  Country Radio Seminar is a registered trademark of Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.  CRS 2011 is held March 2-4, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn.  $499 On-Site registration (excluding a ticket to the sold out New Faces Show) is available at www.CRB.org or by contacting the Country Radio Broadcasters at (615) 327-4487.