Speaker Sessions: Jada Watson on the Unheard Voices of Radio Airplay

Join us on Tuesday, August 11 at 7 p.m. for a conversation with music researcher and SongData founder Jada Watson. In this program, Watson explores whose stories get airplay in country music—and whose are left out. Through more than a decade of research, Watson’s work has illuminated how inequitable programming practices at country radio have limited opportunities for women and artists of color, while also shaping what audiences hear. Tracing this work back to “TomatoGate,” the session highlights how these patterns are not only ongoing, but deeply rooted in the genre’s history. The discussion invites listeners to hear country music differently by asking whose voices are amplified—and whose are missing. Special thanks to the United Company Foundation for their support of this program. Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Time: 7 p.m. ET Location: Virtual on ZOOM Cost: Free and open to the public, RSVPs are requested RSVP HERE Jada Watson is an associate professor of digital humanities in… View Source