We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Christian Lamitschka a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Christian, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Country Music News International, the unique multimedia hub for fans of country music, giving country music fans a modern, updated destination that is easier and quicker to navigate while still providing the popular news, reviews and interviews that fans are always looking for. In addition to an online magazine, Country Music News International will continue to provide its popular radio show, heard several times a week.

Country Music News International was founded by Christian Lamitschka. “In the beginning, the focus of the online magazine was on reporting about country music mainly from Germany and Europe,” said Lamitschka. “We began to include CD reviews from various European country music artists and then Interviews with various artists from different backgrounds were added.

A little later, the focus expanded to include the country music scene in the USA and Canada. Here, Country Music News International quickly became established as a recognized magazine. Lamitschka interviewed artists such as George Jones, Wynonna Judd, The Oakridge Boys, Hank Williams Jr., Frank Myers, Cassadee Pope, Kree Harrison, Shania Twain, LeAnn Rimes, Eddy Raven, Jake Owen, Buddy Jewell and many other top artists.

Because of these interviews, Country Music News International began attracting readers from all over the world. Knowledgeable and experienced journalists were recruited to write for the magazine. Among the long-term contributors: Preshias Harris who reports from Nashville on what’s happening in ‘Music City’.

“But Country Music News International is more than just an online magazine,” notes Lamitschka. “We also have a radio show which airs several times a week, moderated by Anja Kristin Krone. The radio show team added Jonny Anderson Oczko, Big Al Weekley and Frank Hammer. The shows are in German and English and are broadcast both online and on WDIC 92.1, Virginia,, one of the largest FM & AM radio stations in America.”

The new website gives Country Music News International a more modern, easy to navigate appearance while retaining much of the traditional look that country fans have grown to know and love. News, articles, interviews, CD reviews, music videos and links to the radio shows are now easier to find and follow. Fans of traditional country, country rock, country pop and Bluegrass can now effortlessly find information about their favorite artists.

Country music fans are invited to take a look at the new Country Music News International to see and hear country music from all over the world.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born in 1970 and raised in Bad Vilbel, a small town close to Frankfurt am Main in Germany.

My break as country music journalist came in 1995 writing for CountryCircle magazine in Germany.

Since that time I have written for several national and international print magazines as well as for several internet magazines including Country Stars Online.

And working together with two radio stations,I built my name and reputation step by step in America and Europe doing interviews with major country music stars like Hank Williams Jr., Gretchen Wilson, George Jones, Montgomery Gentry, The Oak Ridge Boys, Wynonna and more.

I have also interviewed many behind the scenes people like Ray Baker who produced Merle Haggard, George Strait and Moe Bandy.

Rock ‘N’ Roll legend turned country songwriter Buzz Cason was also a notable interview.

Since March 1st, 2011, I publish my own country music magazine, Country Music News International: https://countrymusicnewsinternational.com/

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

Most time clients contact me via email.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

In 2020 we came up with following: The Corona virus is something that concerns all of us. Christian Lamitschka, publisher and editor of CMNI posted the following statement: “During this difficult time we have to stand together. Artists can no longer tour as concerts are cancelled. Almost everyone in the business is being impacted financially. In order to help you keep yourself or your artist in the public eye and not slip from their memory, we are drastically reducing our advertising rates. Pay for the first month and get the next 11 months free.”

Please email CMNI at [email protected] and be proactive.

The monthly plan was $250 and you pay only for the first month and 11 months are for free!

Banner with link back to your website of choice.

Links at our associated sites.
Listed as a sponsor in our weekly newsletter.
Your radio promo or music played on the radio show.
Listed as a sponsor on our Facebook page.
We embed your music videos on the magazine website.
We publish all press releases, articles, CD reviews and any promos you send us.
Facts about Country Music News International:

Magazine:

Readers since February 2011: 3,226,776 (December 29. 2019)
Readers in 2019: 418,572 (December 29. 2019)
Readers Top 10 Country since February 2011 : USA 1,602,131 Germany 434,235 UK 132,506 Russia 128,077 France 113,373 Canada 70,428 Ukraine 41,667 China 24,669 Brazil 20,673 Unknown Region 19,594 (December 29. 2019)

Twitter Followers: 1,334 (December 29. 2019)

CMNI on Facebook Followers: 4,978 (December 29. 2019)
CMNI Radio Show on Facebook Followers: 2,408 (December 29. 2019)
CMNI Magazine on Facebook Followers: 819 (December 29. 2019)
CMNI Artist, Event & Sponsor News FB Group Members: 1,129 (December 29. 2019)
CMNI Daily News FB Group Members: 1,356 (December 29. 2019)
CMNI Newsletter FB Group Members: 1,279 (December 29. 2019)
CMNI Radio Show TOP10 FB Group Members: 1,018 (December 29. 2019)
CMNI Radio Show FB Group Members: 1,686 (December 29. 2019)
CMNI Update FB Group Members: 1.741 (December 29. 2019)
CMNI FB Group Members: 3,647 (December 29. 2019)

Youtube Visits: 427.190 (December 29. 2019)
LinkedIn Followers: 3,141 (December 29. 2019)
CMNI LinkedIn Group Members: 431 (December 29. 2019)
Xing Followers: 34 (December 29. 2019)
New: CMNI on Google My Business

Newsletter:

Published at Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, LinkedIn, Xing, Email
RadioShow:
Listeners 2019: ca. 100,000
But that deal is not longer offered. But we have a great new one, which can be found here at our website: https://countrymusicnewsinternational.com/advertise/

Contact Info:

• Website: https://countrymusicnewsinternational.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/countrymusicnewsinternational/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CountryMusicNewsInternational
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-lamitschka-47030050/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CMNI_More_Music
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/countrymusicnewsinternational
• Other: Fans of Country Music News International https://www.facebook.com/groups/FansOfCountryMusicNewsInternational Country Music News International https://www.facebook.com/groups/CountryMusicNewsInternational/ Country Music News International Update https://www.facebook.com/groups/CountryMusicNewsInternationalUpdate/ Country Music News International Newsletter https://www.facebook.com/groups/CountryMusicNewsInternationalNewsletter/ Country Music News International Daily News https://www.facebook.com/groups/CountryMusicNewsInternationalDailyNews/ CMNI Radio Show TOP 10 https://www.facebook.com/groups/CMNIRadioShowTOP10/ Country Music News International Artist, Event & Sponsor News https://www.facebook.com/groups/CountryMusicNewsInternationalArtistEvent/ We Love Country Music News International https://www.facebook.com/groups/WeLoveCountryMusicNewsInternational/ Country Music News International Radio Show Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/CountryMusicNewsInternationalRadioShowGroup/

Image Credits
(c) by Christian Lamitschka