03/05/2026
🎶 Seven Years Ago… This Was Just an Idea.
An idea that independent Texas artists deserved a place to be heard.
An idea that the radio stations supporting them deserved recognition.
An idea that the Texas music community could come together to support something bigger than any one artist, station, or organization.
So the Texas Internet Radio Chart (TIRC) was born.
What started as a simple passion project has now spent seven years tracking, recognizing, and celebrating the artists and stations that keep Texas Red Dirt, Country, and Americana music alive.
Week after week.
Song after song.
Artist after artist.
Over time, that small idea grew into something bigger…
It grew into a community.
Through the launch of the Texas Internet Radio Association (TIRA), the annual TIRC & TIRA Awards Celebration, and our work alongside SMG Academy, we’ve dedicated ourselves to something that matters deeply to us:
👉 Supporting up-and-coming artists
👉 Encouraging songwriters
👉 Recognizing radio stations and industry professionals
👉 Creating opportunities for the next generation of independent music
And this year marks another huge step forward.
For the first time ever, 2026 will be the first full official year of tracking for the TIRC-AM National Americana Chart, expanding our mission beyond Texas and into a growing national movement of independent music.
But here’s the truth many people don’t realize…
Everything we’ve built over the past seven years has been powered by people who believe in the music.
People who believe that independent artists deserve support.
People who believe that real radio still matters.
People who believe the next generation of musicians and industry professionals deserve opportunities.
And that’s where you come in.
We are currently seeking sponsors who want to stand with us and help continue this mission.
Every dollar raised goes directly toward:
• Producing the TIRC & TIRA Awards Celebration
• Maintaining the software and infrastructure that powers the charts
• Creating new programs that help artists and industry professionals grow
We’re not a corporation.
We’re a community built by artists, radio, and people who love real music.
If you believe in supporting the future of Texas Red Dirt, Country, and Americana music, we invite you to take a look at our sponsorship opportunities and find a level that fits your heart for the music.
Because together… we can continue building something special.
Seven years in.
And we’re just getting started.
🤘🎶
— Mark Sebby
Founder | Texas Internet Radio Chart
Texas Internet Radio Association
