Cox Media Group’s Rare Country, the leading, online destination for all things country music, is producing a variety of new content for its vast distribution network, including the weekly YouTube series, “Rare Country’s 5” with host Erin Holt, and the new series “Pedal for the Medal,” hosted by country music personality and Rare Country senior correspondent Hunter Kelly. Both series are produced in Nashville and will be featured and distributed via Rare Country’s digital properties and made available for use across all Cox Media Group properties.
Laurissa Phillips, general manager, Rare Country, stated: “Every platform we inhabit thrives on specialized video content, and the production of our own signature series serves as the next step in the continued evolution of the Rare Country brand. With our vast distribution via Facebook, Rare and Cox Media, we have the potential to reach 30 million impressions, and with these new series, we look forward to introducing new audiences to our Rare Country personalities.”
The first of these new series is “Rare Country’s 5,” hosted by Erin Holt - a weekly wrap-up of the top 5 stories in country music debuting every Saturday morning across Rare Country’s YouTube channel and on Facebook. Rare Country also produces a second weekly version of “The 5,” a show covering popular trends and topics in country music, debuting every Thursday afternoon. “The 5” has produced over 35 episodes since the launch, which are available here. Erin Holt is familiar face in the Nashville market, having worked on-air as a reporter and anchor at ABC affiliate, WKRN. She’s earned multiple Emmy nominations and Associated Press Broadcaster Awards for her work on breaking news and storytelling.
This spring, production will begin on “Pedal for the Medal,” hosted by Hunter Kelly. In each episode, Hunter will lead this elimination game show by quizzing contestants on country music trivia, all while riding a pedal tavern (mobile bars powered by pedaling!) in and around downtown Nashville. The fast-paced fun will quickly separate the amateurs from the pros, while Hunter finds out which team can “Pedal, Drink & Think!” their way to victory. Click here for a sneak peek of the series. Hunter Kelly is one of country music’s most beloved personalities, with a long history covering the genre for ABC Radio. In addition to his role in “Pedal for the Medal,” Hunter serves as Rare Country senior correspondent and red carpet reporter.
Last October, Rare Country began producing series under the “Rare Country’s 5” franchise. Since that time, Rare Country’s YouTube channel has grown exponentially, averaging over 450,000 views and more than 800,000 minutes watched per month. “Rare Country’s 5” is promoted each week via Rare Country’s Facebook page to its 1.7 million subscribers and is frequently distributed amongst Rare’s combined channels garnering some 30 million impressions.
“Rare Country’s 5” and “Pedal for the Medal” are produced in collaboration with Made In Network. Nashville-based Made In Network is a video-first media company that operates on the belief that creating original content on YouTube is the future of entertainment.
About Rare Country
A subsidiary of Cox Media Group, Rare Country is one of today's fastest-growing media brands in country music. The site’s ‘Fans First’ mentality guides its coverage of everything the country music fan is passionate about. Visit www.rarecountry.com and follow Rare Country on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.