The National Religious Broadcasters will convene this month in Nashville for NRB 2020, the annual Christian media convention and exhibition.
This year’s theme is “Look Forward.” According to the event website, NRB 2020 offers networking opportunities, workshops, keynotes, panels and an exhibit hall.
The schedule emphasizes practical skills for the digital age, tailored to religious communicators. Advice and insights will be offered by industry speakers such as Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth partner Karyn Ablin, Borrell Associates CEO Gordon Borrell, Moody Radio Director of Digital Strategy and UX Yvonne Carlson, Edison Research VP of Music & Research Sean Ross, Finney Media President Chuck Finney, Salem Media Group Senior Vice President Russell R. Hauth and others.
Additionally, several NRB 2020 policy sessions will be headlined by names familiar to news junkies and politicos. U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and Attorney General Bill Barr are slated to speak at the event, as are Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and TBN host and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who have each addressed prior NRB conventions.
IF YOU GO
Who: Christian media and ministry professionals
When: Feb. 25–28
Where: Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, Nashville, Tenn.
How: https://nrbconvention.org/
How much: Full convention pass — $750 or $550 for NRB members; Expo Plus pass — $600 or $350; Expo only pass — $50
SAMPLE SESSIONS
Find the full schedule online at https://tinyurl.com/nrb2020schedule. It’s searchable by registration type and includes information on session locations.
Feb. 25
7– 9 p.m. Opening Session
Feb. 26
7–8:30 a.m. NRB Breakfast to Honor Israel
9:30–10:45 a.m. Morning Forum — Policy featuring U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and American Center for Law and Justice Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow
12–12:30 p.m. NRB Talks — Music Licensing: Keeping Up with Key Developments in the Ever-Changing World
12–12:30 p.m. Workshop — Demystifying Facebook Audiences
12:45–1:15 p.m. NRB Talks — Podcasting
1:30–2 p.m. NRB Talks — Emerging Trends for Digital Fundraising Growth
1:30–2 p.m. Workshop — Music Royalties — Broadcast and Digital
3–3:30 p.m. NRB Talks — Five Fresh Digital Fundraising Approaches
4–5:30 p.m. Afternoon Forum featuring U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr
Feb. 27
12–12:30 p.m. NRB Talks — Creating the Right Content for the Right Audience
12–12:30 pm Workshop — From College to Career: Breaking into Christian Media
1–3 p.m. iNRB Student Feedback & Standing Committee Meeting
3–3:30 p.m. NRB Talks — Bringing Young Talent into the Industry
4–4:30 p.m. Afternoon Forum — Public Policy Update from NRB General Counsel Craig Parshall
5:30–7 p.m. Digital Media Advisory & Standing Committee Meetings
7–8:30 p.m. Radio Advisory & Standing Committee Meetings
Feb. 28
9:30–10:45 a.m. Morning Forum featuring Mike Huckabee and Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee
11:15–11:45 a.m.
NRB Talks — A 2020 Vision For Christian Radio
12–12:30 p.m. NRB Talks — Video Did Not Kill the Radio Star: Moving Forward in a Digital World
6–9 p.m. Closing Gala Dinner with Special Service Awards (ticket required)
Feb. 25
7– 9 p.m. Opening Session
Feb. 26
7–8:30 a.m. NRB Breakfast to Honor Israel
9:30–10:45 a.m. Morning Forum — Policy featuring U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and American Center for Law and Justice Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow
11:15–11:45 a.m. Workshop — How to Make an Internal/External Digital Media Communication Plan
12–12:30 p.m. NRB Talks — Music Licensing: Keeping Up with Key Developments in the Ever-Changing World
12–12:30 p.m. Workshop — Demystifying Facebook Audiences
12:45–1:15 p.m. NRB Talks — Podcasting
12:45– 1:15 p.m. Workshop — Subject Lines: 5 Mental Levers that Anyone Can Use to Get More Opens and Donations
1:30–2 p.m. NRB Talks — Emerging Trends for Digital Fundraising Growth
1:30–2 p.m. Workshop — Music Royalties — Broadcast and Digital
3–3:30 pm NRB Talks — Five Fresh Digital Fundraising Approaches
3–3:30 p.m. Workshop — The Importance of Knowing Your Audience
4–5:30 p.m. Afternoon Forum featuring U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr
Feb. 27
11:15–11:45 a.m. Workshop — Taking Control of your Distribution Strategy in a World of Digital Disruption and VOD Streaming Wars
12–12:30 p.m. NRB Talks — Creating the Right Content for the Right Audience
12–12:30 pm Workshop — From College to Career: Breaking into Christian Media
1–3 p.m. iNRB Student Feedback & Standing Committee Meeting
1:30–2 p.m. Workshop — On Air Fundraising Done Internally
3–3:30 p.m. NRB Talks — Bringing Young Talent into the Industry
4–4:30 p.m. Afternoon Forum — Public Policy Update from NRB General Counsel Craig Parshall
5:30–7 p.m. Digital Media Advisory & Standing Committee Meetings
7–8:30 p.m. Radio Advisory & Standing Committee Meetings
Feb. 28
9:30–10:45 a.m. Morning Forum featuring Mike Huckabee and Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee
11:15–11:45 a.m. NRB Talks — A 2020 Vision For Christian Radio
12–12:30 p.m. NRB Talks — Video Did Not Kill the Radio Star: Moving Forward in a Digital World
12:45–1:15 p.m. Workshop — Next Gen TV / ATSC 3.0 — How the New Emerging Broadcast Standard Impacts Christian TV
6–9 p.m. Closing Gala Dinner with Special Service Awards (ticket required)
EXHIBITORS
A sampling of companies that will be represented on the show floor. The full list can be found at https://tinyurl.com/nrb2020exhibitors.
[twelve:thirty] media
Aberdeen Broadcast Services
American Amplifier Technologies, LLC
AMS Agency
B&H B2B
Broadcast Concepts
Broadcast Depot
Broadcast Software International
Broadcasters General Store
Buoyancy Public Relations
Cars Inc.
CASTUS
CDR Communications
Christian Television Network
CNLTV
COICOM
Comrex
ComunicadoresUS
CrossMedia/Lightcast
CSN International
DJB Software Inc dba DJBRadio (Digital JukeBox)
DonorDirect
Encompass Digital Media
ENCO Systems
Faith Radio – WLBF/WSTF/WDYF
Galcom International
Grace And Truth Radio
Haivision
LBG Marketing Inc.
Libsyn Pro
LinkUp Communications
Live365
LUMO Project
MegaVoice
Nimble Connect
NRBTV
PTZOptics
Quad Tape Transfer
RCS
SCMS Inc.
Shively Labs
Soliton Systems, Inc.
Stream Station
SuperChannel WACX-TV
Teradek
Trinet Internet Solutions, Inc.
Tulix Systems, Inc.
WATC-TV
WAVSTAR
WBNA TV 21
Wedel Software
WGGS-TV / KMCT-TV
Wheatstone Corp.
World News Group