'Acoustic Accents" Now Heard on The Sonic Planet

 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Sonic Planet (www.thesonicplanet.com) today announced that “Acoustic Accents” will be airing Saturdays and Sunday evenings at 8 p.m.

Host Bud Johnson presents the best in modern folk music every week. On “Acoustic Accents” the song takes center stage and all genres are valued. Join us to discover new artists and hear the classic songs that still inspire us.

Johnson began his foray into radio as a volunteer for a small community radio station in a remote Alaskan village on the Yukon River.

The one-hour program showcases great songs in the realms of folk, roots, bluegrass, Americana, Celtic, and everything in between.

 In addition to the weekly line-up, Bud’s occasional “Words & M
usic” segments feature live performances and interviews with national and international touring musicians. 

Listen online at www.thesonicplanet.com, download the free Apple or Google app and listen on internet connected listening devices like Alexa.

Contact: Mike Bonts/mike@jaxrootsradio.com

Infinite Dial 2026: Radio’s Biggest Audience Is Going Digital

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Edison Research’s annual Infinite Dial study was released this week. The study tracks American media and technology adoption across age, gender, and platform.

Online audio in the car, which includes streaming music services, reached 48%, more than double its 21% figure from a decade ago. Podcasts came in at 37%.

But the data makes clear that the digital migration in-car is no longer a gradual drift; it is accelerating, particularly among younger drivers. 

Among those aged 18 to 34, 73% listened to online audio in the car in the past month, and 55% listened to podcasts. Radio holds its strongest in-car position among the 55-and-older group, where 81% reported using AM/FM in their vehicles.

That loyalty may no longer translate outside of vehicles, though.

Online audio monthly listening among Americans 55 and older jumped from 52% in 2024 to 70% in 2026.

Overall, 81% of all Americans aged 12 and older now report listening to online audio in the past month, an all-time high representing an estimated 233 million people. 

But while listening among younger age groups has been essentially flat for three years, the growth engine is now firmly in the 55-plus demographic, historically over-the-air radio’s most loyal and heaviest-listening audience.

The full 2026 Infinite Dial dataset is available via Edison Research.

(Thanks to Radio Ink for generating this story)

IBMA Recognizes Graduating Class of 2026 IBMA Leadership Bluegrass

 

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NASHVILLE, TENN - The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) is pleased to recognize the 2026 graduates of IBMA Leadership Bluegrass. Marking the 25th year of the program, IBMA Leadership Bluegrass has cultivated a network of more than 500 alumni. 

This intensive three-day program provides participants with in-depth learning, networking opportunities, and the tools to address the evolving challenges and opportunities within the bluegrass music industry. 

The 2026 program took place March 2-4 at the Country Music Association in Nashville, Tennessee. Jeff Westerinen served as course facilitator and Nancy Posey served as assistant facilitator. The IBMA also recognizes the 2026 IBMA Leadership Bluegrass Planning Committee, whose efforts made the program possible: Greg Blake, Jeff Burke, Dustin Boyd, Dave Howard, Jordan Laney, Erin Moorman, and IBMA Staff Liaison Haley Grimm. 

Each year, participants are carefully chosen through a competitive process, bringing together current and future leaders from all corners of the bluegrass community. The 2026 class includes representatives from Québec, British Columbia, Switzerland, Australia, and across the United States. 

The 2026 IBMA Leadership Bluegrass graduates are: 
Chassady Abernathy - Sound Biscuit / Appalachian Road Show / ETSU (Ellijay, GA) 

Evie Andrus - East Tennessee Bluegrass Association, President / University of Tennessee, Lecturer of Appalachian Music / Pellissippi State Community College, Adjunct Music Faculty / Laurel Theater, Managing Director (Knoxville, TN) 
 
Jessica Blankenship - Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum (London, KY) 
 
Kathryn Boucher - Spartanburg Philharmonic (Spartanburg, SC) 
 
Madeleine Cody - The Cody Sisters (Brooklyn, NY) 

Amy Sue Combs - International Bluegrass Music Association (Bowling Green, KY)
 
Joe Dan Cornett - North Chapel Music (White House, TN) 

Gina Dilg - Square Dance Agency (Radford, VA) 

Helen Foley - California Bluegrass Association (Sonoma, CA) 

Tanya Guenther - NimblePie Creative Co. / NimbleFingers Bluegrass & Old-Time Workshops & Festival (Mile Ranch, British Columbia, Canada) 

Byron Hill - Byron Hill Music (Franklin, TN) 

Tyler Hughes - The Crooked Road (Big Stone Gap, VA) 

Stephen M. Johnson – Represent / GPA Government and Public Affairs (Owensboro, KY)

Sarah W. Larsen - Black-Eyed Suzies / Little Fiddle Studio (Stevesville, MD) 

Joanne Ledesma - Musicbizgal.com (Glendora, CA)

Isaac McCarthy - The Ohio State University / Bluegrass Pride (Gerrardstown, WV)

Will McSeveney - Skyline Records (Nashville, TN)

Bridget Rees - Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival (Megan, New South Wales, Australia)

Benjamin Russell - Gordon Rees / Delta Hayride Association (Nashville, TN) 

Mark R. Schuster - IBMA Foundation (Langley, WA) 

Elliot Siff - The Bluegrass Journeymen Academy / Elliot Siff Productions (Golden, CO) 

Carly Speno - Bonfire Entertainment (Laval, Québec, Canada) 

Randy Steele - tnjams.com (Chattanooga, TN) 

Shelly Surdoval - The Recording Academy (Franklin, TN) 

Urs-Rainer von Arx - Swiss Bluegrass Music Association / Country Ramblers (Zürich, Switzerland) 

Liz Wolfe - BluegrassJamsNearMe.com (New York, NY) 

Information and applications for 2027 IBMA Leadership Bluegrass will be available at www.ibma.org/leadership-bluegrass this fall. Learn more about the International Bluegrass Music Association at ibma.org and worldofbluegrass.org.