Last December, when Stark Country polled radio and music industry execs for their New Year wishes and hopes for the industry, the overwhelming majority of responses had to do with finding jobs for our displaced and downsized colleagues. While nothing has improved in the job market in the ensuing year, in a similar poll taken this week just two of the 25 people surveyed even mentioned the employment scene in their wishes (and both work for Premiere Radio Networks, which just experienced a round of layoffs).

Instead, the central themes of this year’s wishes are a hope for developing more superstar artists in the next year, and a more resolute wish that the industry can stay on track for at least a while longer. Here’s what some of your friends and colleagues had to say.

• Gregg Swedberg (pictured), PD, KEEY Minneapolis: “I hope we find the leadership and spirit to keep it moving along. Our success now comes from our most recent superstars. Let’s make more of them, please. Don’t be afraid to move this format ahead.”

• Saul Levine, president/GM, Mount Wilson FM Broadcasters (owner of KKGO Los Angeles): “That country music continues its movement to mass appeal radio. Kudos to Reba for her ‘On The Radio’ song. All country radio stations must spread the word RADIO far and wide. We are proud to be RADIO. But country radio must continue to structure its programming so as to make it clear that there is a unique sound that can only be accessed song after song on country radio. Playing a Taylor or Carrie song does not qualify an AC station to steal the country audience.

“We encountered some cute tricks in LA by some local stations playing a crossover country song, and then announcing a long, commercial-free sweep. So my suggestion is that all of us in country radio use our ingenuity to ‘go get ’em.’ We at KKGO-FM are proud that we are achieving huge audience cumes. And for KKGO-FM, starting our fifth year in country radio, this is just the beginning.”

• Bill Mayne, executive director, Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.: “How about more patience and confidence in our industry? We have great opportunity if we are willing to open ourselves to new ideas and thinking for the future, and the possibilities it offers! This is the time for us to be asking ourselves the difficult questions that will lead us to new methodologies for growth, not trying to protect the policies of the past. Be bold and flourish! That’s my wish, beyond health and happiness.”

• Tom Moran, VP, Nine North Records: “My wish for 2011 is that the entire country radio community makes no distinction between major label and independent music company releases. Over dinner, everyone seems to embrace the ‘good music is good music no matter where it comes from’ concept, but back in the office, many (not all) continue to have two separate categories for various reasons. It’s going to happen. I’d just like to see it happen starting now.”

• Bobby Braddock, songwriting legend: “That all in the industry will find a way to comfortably travel down the new roads, let go of the old ways as they become obsolete, yet remain true to the music and be able to prosper in doing so.”

• Evan Bridwell, PD KUZZ-AM-FM Bakersfield, Calif.: “If you believe that every good thing runs in cycles, I’d like to see a boom in the development of superstars like we saw 20 years ago. We already have a great start. This could be a decade stronger than the ’90s.”

• George Nunes, GM, Show Dog-Universal Music: “My Christmas wish would be that the ghost of Christmas past would visit us and take us back to a time when new music was discovered and supported locally, built a following and then grew to national exposure. A time when creative music directors and were able to make magic with the music they found and made us feel a part of their discovery. God bless us everyone.”

• Van Haze, VP national promotion, MCA Nashville: “I would love to see some of these new artists bust wide open. There’s a whole crop of ’em right there just on the verge. That would make me really happy to see them hit it big next year.”

• Chris Huff, operations manager, KSCS Dallas: “I hope we can appreciate the good things that are happening and not let ourselves get bogged down with the negative. Yes, we’re all experiencing constant change regardless of what part of the industry we are in, and there remain many unknowns about what is yet to come. However, the fact that in the last year we saw great new talent like Easton Corbin and The Band Perry break through—and more established artists like Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert reach new levels of stardom—is very encouraging to me and leads me to believe the sky may not be falling just yet.”

• Rosemary Young, senior producer, Premiere Radio Networks: “Jobs for everyone!”

• Karen DeFriez, affiliate relations director, Premiere Radio Networks: “Jobs all around!”

• Dale Carter, PD/morning man KFKF Kansas City: “I hope superstars like George, Brad and Reba keep making hit music, and that newcomers like the Zac Brown Band and Easton Corbin continue to have the success they had in 2010!”

• Rick Kelly, VP radio marketing, Marco Promotions: “I hope that the people who produce awards shows will come to understand that country artists are mainstream artists with huge followings, and that we don’t need Kid Rock or Snooki to give our artists credibility.”

• John Ettinger, Ettinger Talent Associates and Quarterback Records: “My hope and wish is that this next generation of artists and executives can understand the tremendous opportunity in front of us. The audience is telling us strongly that they love the new sounds coming from Nashville. Let’s celebrate that in how we work with radio, record our songs, and ignite the fans.”

• Consultant Rusty Walker: “As an experienced industry veteran, my wish for 2011 is that all radio will once again begin to limit inventory. Inventory demand is the only way to consistently raise rates, and ‘rates in the toilet’ are the biggest problem facing radio right now. We must stop selling for ‘share of budget’ and again begin to sell for results, CPM, or whatever other unique selling proposition you may have. And no matter how you’ve been convinced otherwise, every station has a unique selling/value proposition!”

• Keola Lui Kwan, APD/MD and assistant director of digital programming KUPL Portland, Ore.: “I hope that we continue to invigorate that diversity of sound styles while staying away from the sea of monotony. From the traditional sound of George Strait to the pop sound of Taylor Swift, we welcome and embrace all dynamics that embody country music!”

• Randy “Mudflap” Wilcox, OM WEGX Florence, S.C.: “That the labels and artists recognize the fact that small and medium market radio stations contribute a great deal to their success.”

• Marci Braun, APD/MD WUSN (US99.5) Chicago: “There was a lot of great music that came out of Nashville this year. When we have great music to play, more people listen. In turn, those listeners go out and buy music. It’s a win-win! I look forward to more of this in 2011!”

• Pete O’Heeron, CEO, Cold River Records: “My hope for 2011 is that we will see slowing of the deterioration at retail. It seems as if stores like Game Stop have replaced record stores as the communal place for teenagers, and that saddens me since my childhood was spent at the record stores. I hope that something changes or we see something really cool happen for physical product in 2011.”

• Consultant Joel Raab: “In 2011, I wish for more publicity for Taylor Swift. Seriously, I wish for both radio stations and the country music industry to grow in 2011, and hit their budgets!”

• Melissa Frost, APD/MD/promotions director/midday air personality, KRRV Alexandria, La.: “I wish labels and radio would give older artists a chance. They are still putting out great music, but it seems as if no one will give them a chance to be played/heard.”

• Kevin Lamb, VP, peermusic: “As the economy, our market and our business have shrunk over the past few years, there are still quite a few of us who are lucky enough to be employed doing what we love to do. Our songs and our records continue to touch our listeners in ways we sometimes can’t even imagine—in many cases being an inspiration [to] those experiencing troubled times. I am proud to have seen the country music community continue to give generously through all of this via such programs as Country Cares for St. Jude Kids, and through contributions of much more than simply cash donations to help Nashville and surrounding communities recover from the flood. As such, my year end wish would be that all of us can just ‘keep on keepin’ on’.”

• Chris Loss, national director of promotion, The Valory Music Co.: “More CD release launch weeks like ‘Speak Now.’ Every act/label/manager/publicist, etc. should closely examine how Taylor and Big Machine launched ‘Speak Now.’ Excellence in execution. The bar has been set.”

• Songwriter and “Nancy” cartoonist Guy Gilchrist: “I hope we all pull through. I hope instead of doors closing because music execs don’t know what to do, play, or what will sell, they’ll realize that the only way to great music and great sales is by opening doors to the amazing people you might not know yet that are going to bring this town back. There is no end to the depth of great songs and voices in this town. I hear ’em all the time. It’s about time the publishers and record companies quit hiring bean counters to listen to the stuff, and bring in talent to listen to talent.”

• Bob Moody, VP/programming, Townsquare Media: “That Lorrie Morgan will re-open her hot chicken restaurant in a location closer to Music Row.”