NASH FM now in Peoria

There is a new country music station in Peoria, but local country fans won’t have to retune to find it.

NASH FM 97.3 is the name of the station formerly known as River Country. It is one of six stations that are now under the NASH FM banner, owned by Cumulus Radio.

“The new NASH FM 97.3 means more of the country music you love, more interaction with country’s biggest stars and improved content on air, on line and soon in magazine and on television,” said a news release announcing the change, which took effect Sept. 6.

“You still get the personalities you love like Jenn and Mark In The Morning, Shelly Knight, CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan, and ‘Kickin It With Kix’ overnight,” the release.

Cumulus is the nation’s largest country music broadcaster, with 84 country format station across the country, reaching more than 15 million listeners each month.

“Following our debut of the NASH FM brand earlier this year we’re excited about expanding NASH to more radio stations as well as bringing NASH content to other forms of media including video and magazines,” said Lew Dickey, CEO of Cumulus. “Our listeners and advertisers will continue to benefit from the variety of on-air and off-air Country lifestyle content opportunities associated with the NASH brand.”

Cumulus launched the NASH brand, based on the country music lifestyle, last January. It started with its flagship, “America’s Country Station” NASH FM 94.7 in New York City. In addition to Country format radio stations, the NASH brand will include a NASH magazine, online content and television programming.

The website is now 973nashfm.com but little else has changed. It still brings readers news from the music industry, features such as the Pet of the Week, contests to win tickets to concerts and other events and information about the local shows and personalities.

NASH 97.3 in one of three Peoria-area radio stations to carry country music. The others are WXCL 104.9 in Pekin and WCDD 107.9 in Canton.

Cumulus Media is the largest pure-play radio broadcaster in the United States with 525 stations in 110 markets, a programming network serving more than 5,000 affiliates nationwide and SweetJack, the local deals platform that will serve 200 U.S. markets.