By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Locally owned country music station 95.3 The Bull in Rockford has been named a finalist for an Academy of Country Music Award as one of the best small market stations in the nation.
95.3 The Bull (WRTB-FM) is one of five finalists for small market radio station of the year. The other nominees are KATI-FM in Jefferson City, Missouri, KCLR-FM in Columbia, Missouri, WFLS-FM in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and WNGC-FM in Athens, Georgia.
“It’s always a great honor to be recognized in any capacity, but for it to be amongst such well-respected stations across this and all of the categories by our country music peers on a national stage feels extra special,” said Gordon Mays, director of programming and content for Mid-West Family Broadcasting Northern Illinois and 95.3 The Bull brand manager.
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The Bull is a partner station of the Rock River Current under Mid-West Family Broadcasting.
“It’s always nice to get some national recognition for a radio brand that works really hard locally,” said Mike Paterson, president of Mid-West Family in Illinois. “The national awareness is something people in the Stateline have known for 10 years now — that 95.3 The Bull cares about them and will always be involved in their lives and their communities.”
The Stateline’s Country Station is anchored by The Morning Stampede, hosted by longtime Rockford radio personality Steve Summers along with Ryan Sartori on weekday mornings, Mays in the midday, Kat in the afternoon, and Backstage Country hosted by Kelly Ford (and weekly country superstar co-hosts) in the evenings.
“I give all credit to this team — who not only love country music and love being able to create an intersection between it and life in the Stateline every day — but who also understand the responsibility a station like ours has in making sure this community, first and foremost, is better because we’re part of it,” Mays said. “That’s not always the type of thing that lands you ACM Awards, so this nomination feels like it’s on our terms a little bit. I’m very proud of that.”
The Bull has served local listeners with country music for about a decade starting in 2014. Before that, WRTB was the variety and classic hits station Bob FM.
The 59th Academy of Country Music Awards will take place Thursday, May 16 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, and will stream live on Prime Video around the world.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas