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Matt Burrill, a senior digital media major and public relations minor, is one of 11 people in the finals for the 2016 Nashville Universe Awards Radio Personality of the Year. Burrill, who is also known as Redneck Matt, hosts , a student-based country music and southern rock show on 107.7 The Bronc.  
 
"Being nominated for this award was unexpected because you need more than a few people to nominate you," Burrill says. "Nashville Universe has a lot of great artists, so it's humbling. Tim McGraw has a song called 'Humble and Kind,' and I try to stick to that." 

The Nashville Universe is an organization that was created primarily to expose independent musicians to a larger audience. It added the radio personality category to its award show last year.  

The Nashville Universe Awards will take place at the legendary Wild Horse Saloon in Downtown Nashville on Monday, Nov. 7.  Burrill will be attending with his mother, Christie, family friend Kathleen Kelly, Bronc General Manager John Mozes and his cousin David Broadhurst. Broadhurst, known on the air as "The Gator," is also up for Radio Personality of the Year. Burrill credits Broadhurst for a large part of the growth of RU Redneck Radio.

“Facebook is our main social media platform for and prior to the Gator’s involvement we probably had 30 or 40 likes on our Facebook page,” says Burrill. “When he got involved our page we had close to a thousand likes the next day.”
 
When Burrill first came to С����Ƶ he was interested in sports journalism with a goal to be on ESPN. But with a love of country music and his gift of gab he immediately got involved with The Bronc and later RU Redneck Radio. He now sees himself possibly living down south where “country is king” and finding employment in the music and entertainment industry. 
 
This semester, Burrill is working with commercial radio stations Magic 98.3 and 1450 WCTC in New Brunswick as part of a nine-credit co-op. He thanks John Mozes for his success.  
 
“Mozes has really saved me and is a huge part of how I’m here at Rider,” Burrill says. “The engaged learning experience that he offers, with all of the experience he has, is incomparable to other college radio stations. I was here every day over the summer working. What The Bronc has done is incredible.”

Burrill gives The Bronc credit for teaching him a great deal about the industry and giving him opportunities to network and make connections. 
 
This year Burrill and the rest of the “Rider Rednecks” have been to a combined 55 different concerts, meeting country superstars like Toby Keith, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, Brothers Osborne, Craig Campbell and Chase Bryant. 

They have also interviewed country artists including Garth Brooks, Colt Ford, Luke Combs and Brett Young. 
 
RU Redneck Radio started as ‘Country Fried Rider’ in 2011 with “Cowboy Schmeeb” Sam Morrison and “Teal Trucker Tommy” Tommy Gentz. It has since transitioned to RU Redneck Radio, hosted by Rider students who live and enjoy the country lifestyle.  The show broadcasts all over the world on IndieRock 101 Nashville, an Internet radio station.   
 
Strangely enough, one of the shows largest listening bases is in New Zealand and Australia, largely due to a Thursday night show that aired from midnight until 2 a.m. EST, lining up with happy hour in Australia. The show would receive a high volume of Australian listeners during the time slot, giving the RU Redneck Radio students a sense of how radio can reach people internationally. 
 
Burrill notes that even though he has been nominated, it wasn’t without the help of the RU Redneck Radio crew including “Mountain Man” Matt St. Onge '18, “Sexy Lexie” Lexie Taylor '18, “Little Sarah” Sarah Della Fave '19, “Redneck Ritter” Matt Ritter '17, “Gunboat Graybush” Anthony Graybush '18, “INSANE Zane” Zane Birnie ’18 and “The Burgh Babe” Jen Boyer '19.

“The team that we’ve got with this show is special, everyone contributes greatly and is a huge part of where myself and the show itself have gotten,” says Burrill. 

Heading to Nashville, Burrill has a busy schedule and plans to enjoy his time there while testing out a place where he could potentially live.  

Burrill’s radio experience has connected him with people all around the world, including a hand full of friends in Nashville. He plans on meeting up with friends, catching a recording session of a new song, doing a few live shows on IndieRock 101, visiting Sweet Song Nashville and other historic sites the city has to offer. Last year’s recipient of the award, Justin Reed, is a friend of Burrill’s who attends Middle Tennessee State. 

“When we go down there it’s all business,” says Burrill. “I’m going to be wearing a suit, and I have a mossy oak camo tie to match my camo hat when I’m on the red carpet. It’s really a dream come true.”