New Country Trending Track Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Program Overview & Eligibility

What is the New Country Trending Track program?

Our national team of Programmers and Music Directors reviews submissions from across the country bimonthly and selects one track to feature as the Trending Track across Stingray’s New Country stations.

Is the program only for emerging Canadian country artists?

Not exclusively. The program is a great way to spotlight emerging Canadian talent, but artists don’t need to be brand new to qualify. Any artist is eligible as long as they haven’t had a top-50 song in the past 24 months.

Are international artists eligible, or is the program Canadian-only?

The program is open to Canadian artists only.

I was in a band and I’m now releasing music as a solo artist. Do I qualify as an “emerging artist”?

Yes. Your history and success with the band will be factored into the evaluation, but you’re still eligible to submit as a solo artist.

Submitting Your Music

Can independent artists submit their music directly?

Yes. Songs can be submitted by the artist or by a member of their team. Independent status has no bearing on whether a song is chosen.

Can I resubmit a song that wasn’t chosen the first time?

Yes. There’s no limit to how many times a song can be submitted if it wasn’t selected in a previous round.

Selection Process

What do streaming numbers and early radio indicators mean for my chances?

Selection is based on a number of factors. Strong streaming numbers and social engagement can help build excitement, and may factor in as a tiebreaker between two close contenders, but they aren’t the primary basis for selection.

How will I know if my song has been selected?

Our team will reach out at least one week before the track begins airing. Only artists whose songs are selected will be contacted.

On-Air Rotation & Promotion

How often does the Trending Track play on-air?

While the exact number of weekly plays isn’t guaranteed, the goal is to give the song a minimum of 14 spins per week across the Stingray New Country network of stations. It airs daily throughout its 8-week run, with plays spread across different times of day.

Do on-air hosts share the artist’s story along with the song?

Yes. Hosts are given background information on the featured artist to share on-air, and the artist is also featured on at least one of Stingray’s nationally syndicated countdown shows during the 8-week run.

How does a song move from “Trending Track” to regular rotation?

As the 8-week run comes to a close, our Programmers and Music Directors decide whether the song advances to regular station rotation. That decision weighs several factors: chart position, potential for continued chart growth, how the song fits the station’s sound, and the artist/team’s ongoing promotional efforts. The artist’s team is notified of the outcome before the 8 weeks end.

Can an artist be featured as the Trending Track more than once?

Yes. However, since a previous feature counts as a top-50 song, the artist must wait at least 24 months from that placement before becoming eligible again.