The Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) have announced that Keith Urban will be the recipient of the 2016 CRS Artist Humanitarian Award.
The award will be presented during the opening ceremonies of Country Radio Seminar (CRS) with Lady Antebellum (2015’s CRS Artist Humanitarian Award recipient) on hand to present the award to Keith.
The CRS Artist Humanitarian Award was created in 1990 by the CRB to honor country music artists who have exhibited exceptional humanitarian efforts during their career.
Talking about the 2016 honoree, CRS Executive Director, Bill Mayne said, “Keith Urban is a true humanitarian who gives out of love, passion, spirit, and generosity. It’s been an honor to witness quietly from the sidelines, the amount of time, talent, and passion that Keith has selflessly given over his life and career. The impact and reach of his generosity has affected so many and is so broad in scope and depth – his is a bar of humanitarian effort that we all can be inspired by!”
Through his career that has spanned more than two decades so far, Keith has strongly supported numerous benefit concerts, including the annual “All For The Hall” Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum benefit concerts, which has raised nearly $3 million in proceeds. In addition, he’s been and remains a supporter of The Grammy in the Schools program, Mr. Holland’s Opus Fund and was recently named the first Ambassador of the CMA Foundation.
Keith is a long-time and continued supporter of “Make A Wish” Foundation and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He serves as an advisory board member for St. Jude and not only visits the hospital, but also produces an annual calendar with the net proceeds going to St. Jude. Since the calendars’ inception in 2003, Keith has raised more than $850,000 for the life-saving mission of St. Jude.
Among other charitable endeavors Keith also showed direct support for the US Military and the Navy SEALS Foundation. He donated his share of artist and publishing royalties from his single “For You” which reached a total of $300,000 given to the foundation.
These are just some of the reasons that Keith has been chosen to receive this award. Previous honorees include Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Randy Owen, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Reba, Vince Gill, Garth Brooks and Charlie Daniels, among others.
Congratulations to Keith Urban on being chosen the recipient of the 2016 CRS Artist Humanitarian Award. It is a well-deserved honor and keep up the good work!
By: Buck Stevens
About Country Radio Seminar: Country Radio Seminar is an annual convention designed to educate and promote the exchange of ideas and business practices in the Country music industry, with specific emphasis on issues relevant to Country radio. Country Radio Seminar 2016 is set for Feb. 8-10, 2016 in Nashville.
