Monday, September 30, 2013

The Band Perry Softens Things Up A Bit

Their first two singles released off their Pioneer album, “Better Dig Two” and “DONE,” were pretty aggressive and full of attitude, but for their latest single, “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely,” they’ve softened things up a bit.
“Well we couldn’t be all spit,” laughs Kimberly. “We had to show a little bit of, you know, show the vulnerability side of what we do.” She says the variation in their single choices is a great representation of the album as a whole. “We definitely have that sense of being the underdog of snapping our fingers but also, we really wore our hearts on our sleeve more than ever before. ‘Don’t Let Me Be Lonely’ has one of my favorite melodies on the whole project. It sounds big but the lyrics are so small in the sense that they’re so personal, so vulnerable.” 
And Kimberly says they love singing it in concert because, “It’s already a major moment live.”

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Florida Georgia Line: Changing Country Music One Party Song At A Time

FGL got a very nice Washington Post profile today:
The band’s rise may seem rapid, but as everyone around them emphasizes, it’s the result of years of tough, behind-the-scenes work. Plus, it’s triumphant proof that doing things a little differently — even if you start outside of the Nashville star-making machine, which has a methodical process of transforming singers into superstars — can lead to success.

“It was a fast rise if you’re looking at it only from the perspective of when the mass audience started paying attention,” says Seth England, the duo’s manager. “I don’t mean that disrespectfully. That’s just when people first became aware of them.”

England laughs, “We call it the five-year overnight success.”

Friday, September 27, 2013

You Can Talk To Jason Aldean

He's very social in the next several weeks:
  • Watch Jason's DVD and chat with him LIVE on Monday, October 14th, 2013 at 9PM ET / 6PM PT at Facebook.com/JasonAldean

  • He also wants you to post your best dance moves on Instagram using #JasonAldeanDVD.

George Strait Sells Out LA Staples Center In Nine Minutes

Strait will be holding court with 17,178 ticketholders during his highly-anticipated appearance on February 8, 2014. The concert, which sold out within 9 minutes today, Friday, Sept. 27, was his first to go on sale and will be Strait's ninth stop during the last leg of his final, two-year The Cowboy Rides Away Tour.

Tickets for the following dates will go on sale beginning at 10:00 a.m. in the venue's respective local time zone on Friday, October 4:

January 17, 2014 CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Neb.
*With special guest Eric Church
January 31, 2014 Valley View Casino Center, San Diego, Calif.
*With special guest Miranda Lambert
February 7, 2014 US Airways Center, Phoenix, Ariz.
*With special guest Martina McBride
February 14, 2014 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Mich.
*With special guest Little Big Town
February 15, 2014 Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
*With special guest Little Big Town
March 22, 2014 Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
*With special guest Sheryl Crow
April 5, 2014 Pepsi Center, Denver, Colo.
*With special guests Merle Haggard and Lee Ann Womack



The STAPLES Center is a world-class sports and entertainment venue, hosting more than 250 events every year. Other notable artists to perform at the arena include Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Prince, U2, Paul McCartney, Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift and more.

Concert-goers will get to hear Strait perform a full set, including many of his 60 No. 1 hits (a record no other artist, in any genre, has achieved). Throughout his distinguished career, Strait has sold more than 68.5 million records to date and is second only to Elvis in certifications, with 33 different platinum or multi-platinum albums to his credit. Billboard will recognize King George's unmatched catalogue of No. 1 singles with its highest accolade, the Legend of Live Award, in November.

Each weekend of The Cowboy Rides Away Tour, Strait will also be joined by special guests including Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Ronnie Dunn, Vince Gill, Merle Haggard, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Lee Ann Womack, Chris Young and more.

Strait will continue to record new music for longtime label home MCA Records and will perform select dates across the country after the tour has wrapped.



Luke Bryan & Eric Church Bring Summer's Hottest Party To Manhattan, Kansas

CMA Entertainer of the Year nominee and reigning  ACM Entertainer of the Year winner LUKE BRYAN and CMA Male Vocalist of the Year nominee and reigning ACM Album of the Year winner ERIC CHURCH are set as Friday and Saturday night headliners, respectively

“Country Stampede has become a lifestyle event, not just for the music, but for the overall experience which includes activities taking place in the campground,” says Country Stampede General Manager Wayne Rouse.  “2014 is going to be a party!  We have announced new radio partners and have the hottest acts in country music set to perform and we are looking forward to having the biggest year since we started.”

Today, festival organizers are pleased to announce exclusive market radio partners for the four-day musical extravaganza.  94.5 Country in Topeka, Kansas; KFDI in Wichita, Kansas; WDAF (The Wolf) in Kansas City, Kansas;  KX96.9 in Lincoln, Nebraska.  A&O&B is proud to be associated with all four great radio stations.

“We have a great relationship with radio in all markets, but the with country music audience growing so rapidly it only made sense for us to expand our marketing into area surrounding the festival, ” says Rouse.  “This is the first time we have created radio partners exclusively for each market, and it is very exciting,”

The 19th annual Kicker Country Stampede will take place at the beautiful Tuttle Creek State Park in Manhattan, Kansas. The Tuttle Creek State Park features over 3,000 campsites, shower houses, restrooms, shaded campsites, and is conveniently located within walking distance of the festival.

Tickets and general campsites are on sale now. VIP camping is SOLD OUT!!  For a limited time, 4-day tickets are $110. Complete ticket and camping package information can be accessed by calling 800-795-8091 or on the Web at www.countrystampede.com.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Toby Keith Goes Down Under In 2014

TK will make his first-ever concert appearances in Australia , bringing his Hammer Down Under Tour to Australia for a series of massive arena concerts next March. Keith will also headline the 2014 CMC Rocks the Hunter festival at the Hope Estate in NSW's beautiful Hunter Valley.

Joining Keith on the tour will be special guest stars ELI YOUNG BAND and KELLIE PICKLER.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Tyler Farr’s “Redneck Ranch” Video Series Continues

Episode 2 of Tyler Farr’s “Redneck Ranch” series is "live" NOW and available for posting on your station or on-air personalities socials via this link:


2 more installments will be sent (#3 on Friday, #4/Finale on Monday) …

Miss #1?

These will lead up to album release on Monday Sept 30.

His promotion team promises:  "THE FINALE WILL NOT DISAPPOINT!"

Monday, September 23, 2013

Thomas Rhett Admits To Being A Football Junkie

Football season is underway and one guy who couldn’t be happier about it is Rhett.

While he enjoys other sports, he admits that college football is his absolute favorite. The “It Goes Like This Singer” says, “That’s pretty much all I do during the Fall on Saturdays. Even though we have shows at night, I’m watching SportsCenter from 10 o’clock until we go on stage and then watching SportsCenter after we get off stage. So, college football is big for me.”

Aside from football, Thomas says he recently got into playing golf, so he’s added The Golf Channel to his TV viewing habits. “I love watching everything golf,” he says, “because I like playing it, I like to watch other people play it too.”

Friday, September 20, 2013

Justin Moore weighs in on Zac Brown and Luke Bryan

Moore’s new CD, “Off the Beaten Path” is out this week and “it’s been a long time comin’.” 
 

Justin says you will find a lot the kind of music that has gotten him to this point in his career, but it is also a bit of a departure for him.  ”You will find music on this album, I might not have cut when I started,” says Justin.  It has a bit of a “rock influence from what I’ve done in the past.”  He runs a lot of the CD by his wife for an honest opinion.

As far as the Luke Bryan and Zac Brown dust up… “Country music is more diverse than it has ever been… What I have a problem with is when you call somebody out in your fraternity.”

You can listen to the whole interview with Justin, including his college picks, with Cat Country/Pensacola's Cat Park morning team here.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Hunter Hayes: "Give The Gift Of Music"

Kicking off the third annual "Countdown to the CMA Awards" contest as part of its industry-wide campaign today debuted a brand new video from Hunter Hayes. Hayes performed his hit song "Wanted" and took home the prestigious honor of being named the CMA Awards New Artist of the Year at the 2012 CMA Awards, and this past August performed his current smash hit, "Everybody's Got Somebody But Me" with Jason Mraz on CMA's Music Festival Special on ABC.

The video spotlights the significance of giving and receiving music as a gift and launched exclusively in a featured "Countdown to the CMA Awards" section of the givethegiftofmusic.info website.

Hunter credits receiving instruments as gifts with sparking his love for music. "All of my musical instruments, up until about three years ago, were gifts. They were more than just instruments. They were more than just something to do with my free time. They were a place. I found myself. I found what I was going to be. I found who I was through music. Music is very powerful and it's one of the most powerful gifts you can give someone," he said.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Tim McGraw's Daughters Inspire Him To Speak Out

The video for “Highway Don’t Care,” which was just nominated for three CMA Awards, takes the opportunity to speak out against the dangerous epidemic of texting and driving. 

Although that’s not what the song is about, Tim loved the video treatment and he says, ““I’m not a big soap box guy so I’m not gonna stand on a soap box and tell everybody how they should live their lives and the things that they should do, and what you should and shouldn’t do.” However, as a father of two teenage daughters who are starting to drive, Tim says, “It just felt like it was the right opportunity and I was in a position to feel like that. It really meant something for me to say it because I do have teenage daughters, so it wouldn’t be like just throwing a message out there for the hell of throwing a message out there.”

Tim, whose current single “Southern Girl” is approaching the top ten, acknowledges, “It’s a different world than when I was a kid. I mean, the idea of having a phone anywhere outside of your house—I remember not having a phone, period. So having a phone outside of your house and texting and talking on the phone and driving it’s not engrained as it is now, because we’ve lived with it for a while but that’s all they know.” He hopes that by lending his voice to the initiative not to text and drive that he can help keep his daughters and everyone else on the roads a little safer.

Friday, September 13, 2013

“You Can’t Make Old Friends”

The world premiere of the video for the new duet by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton – will be broadcast on ABC’s Good Morning America this coming Monday, September 16th.

Rogers and Parton shot the clip together earlier this year in Nashville, Tennessee.  The song is the title track from Rogers’ highly anticipated new album, You Can’t Make Old Friends, which will be released by Warner Bros. Records on October 8th..

It was thirty years ago almost to the day when Rogers and Parton released the multiple-chart No. 1 hit, “Islands In The Stream,” which went on to become an instant classic and one of the most successful singles by a duo in history.   

"I can't think of a more perfect song for the two of us to sing together," Rogers said of "You Can't Make Old Friends."  “Out of everyone in the business, Dolly is my best friend, so naturally it has special meaning for the both of us. It was so good to be back in the studio with her.  I’m thrilled to have our relationship documented this way.”


Parton added, “There is just something about our chemistry with each other – our friendship – that people really sense what we really feel.  To do a song that fits so many people, and certainly us, was an honor.  It’s been a wonderful journey, and I’m so glad I’ve been able to walk this road with Kenny.”

The duet “You Can’t Make Old Friends” is available now on iTunes and is being offered as a instant download for those who pre-order the You Can’t Make Old Friends album on iTunes here: http://smarturl.it/kennyrogers.  The video will be available for purchase next week at digital retailers.
    
You Can’t Make Old Friends is Rogers’ first country album since the release of Water & Bridges in 2006.  The album showcases a certain familiarity that can be expected from Rogers, along with fresh twists of creativity that see the versatile Grammy Award-winner stretching his artistry into new musical territory.  In addition to the great story songs and love songs Rogers has become well known for, flavors of rock and roll, soul, gospel, southern rock, zydeco, and sounds of the Southwest are embraced in this bold recording.

Rogers will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this fall.

Keith Urban Will Be In Cleveland Sunday!

Severe weather in New York City grounded Urban's flight to Cleveland, causing him to miss his concert date last night (9/12). The show at Blossom Music Center went on with openers Dustin Lynch and Little Big Town. 

Urban sent his apologies via YouTube and promised a raincheck for ticket holders this Sunday (9/15).   -- Country Aircheck

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Dierks Bentley Talks Hosting 2013 ACM Honors

The Academy of Country Music recognized some of the industry's finest at the 7th annual ACM Honors awards show at the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville Tuesday.


The show honored musicians, performers, and venues, and is a continuation of the Academy's awards show held every April in Las Vegas.

A rainy evening forced organizers to move the red carpet indoors, but fans still lined the outside of the Ryman Auditorium in hopes of seeing their favorite stars.

"We're just trying to get a glimpse of someone famous," said Janice Walters, a loyal country music fan. "We want someone to come by and talk to us."
 
Dierks Bentley hosted the event for the second year in a row, and said it's always something he looks forward to.
"It's so special as far as honoring who is who in country music, and not just who is current," said Bentley. "This is all about who makes Music City go 'round."

Other musicians agreed the event is unique.

"I love that we are taking a minute to honor people behind the scenes as well as people like George Jones and Keith Whitley," said Chris Young.

"It's really exciting to be honored and to be in a room with so many other great artists," said Charles Kelley with Lady Antebellum.

Some of the big winners were Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum, and The Judds.  Keith Whitley and Hank Williams were honored posthumously.  The Ryman Auditorium was also honored as venue of the year.

Monday, September 9, 2013

CMA Awards Nominees Announced Tuesday, September 10

Country Music's Biggest Night™ nears as the 2013 CMA Awards nominees are revealed live from New York City and Nashville. Sheryl Crow and Florida Georgia Line kick off the morning by announcing nominees in five of the 12 categories on ABC's "Good Morning America." In Nashville, four-time CMA Award winner Steve Wariner performs and announces the CMA Broadcast Awards finalists live from the CMA headquarters. Then, back in New York City, Sheryl Crow and Florida Georgia Line announce the remaining categories live from the Best Buy Theater.

Be one of the first Country Fans to know the 2013 CMA Awards nominees as they are revealed live!

WATCH LIVE AT CMAAWARDS.COM

ANNOUNCEMENT TIMELINE
8:30 AM Local Time - Sheryl Crow and Florida Georgia Line reveal the nominees for five of the 12 CMA Awards categories on "Good Morning America."
7:45 AM/CT - Steve Wariner performs and announces the CMA Broadcast Awards finalists live from the CMA headquarters on CMAawards.com.
8:45 AM/CT - Sheryl Crow and Florida Georgia Line announce nominees in all CMA Awards categories live from the Best Buy Theater in New York City on CMAawards.com.

Gord Bamford Wins Three CCMA Awards; Terri Clark Is "Fans' Choice"

The full list of 2013 CCMA Award winners announced at the CCMA Awards Broadcast is:

Fans’ Choice Award
Terri Clark

Single of the Year
“Leaning On A Lonesome Song” - Gord Bamford

Album of the Year
Is It Friday Yet? – Gord Bamford

CMT Video of the Year
“Leaning On A Lonesome Song” – Gord Bamford

Female Artist of the Year
Kira Isabella

Male Artist of the Year
Dean Brody

Group or Duo of the Year
The Stellas

CCMA RISING STAR Award
Bobby Wills


Finally, there was a bit of action on camera that you could only understand if you were following the show on Twitter too.

David Nail Begins His Fall Tour This Week

Nail's Fall 2013 tour begins on September 12th (Davie, FL) and currently scheduled to run through November 22nd (Atlanta, GA).

The tour will take David through New York City, Atlanta, Tampa, Minneapolis, Fort Worth, Chicago and Boston to name a few. See bottom for full list of tour dates.

In May, Nail released “Whatever She’s Got,” the debut single off Nail’s forthcoming 2014 album. “Whatever She’s Got” (written by Jimmy Robbins and Jon Nite) is a song that Nail said he recorded for his wife, Catherine.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

ACM Honors Tuesday Night

The 7th Annual ACM Honors is shaping up to be an incredible evening! Dierks Bentley is amped up about hosting the event, and YOU can be a part of it with us. Why listen to us? 
 
Hear it straight from Dierks. WATCH HERE
 
ACM Honors will take place Tuesday, September 10th at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The evening is dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Honorees include Special Award recipients Jason Aldean, Guy Clark, Blake Shelton, Tommy Wiggins, Lady Antebellum and The Judds. Keith Whitley and Hank Williams will also be honored posthumously.
 
Performers for the night include Dierks, Rodney Crowell & Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill & Paul Franklin, Kree Harrison, Dave Haywood & Charles Kelley, Jamey Johnson, Robert Earl Keen, Lorrie Morgan, Jesse Keith Whitley, Chris Young, The Mavericks and Thompson Square. Presenters include Big & Rich, Deana Carter, Vince Gill, David Nail, Darius Rucker, Don Schlitz and Steve Wariner.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Keith Urban Lights Fuse

The Tennessean reports that Keith Urban fans will want to be hanging around Music City this Friday.  He'll return to Bridgestone Arena next year, but first, country music star Keith Urban will play three much smaller establishments on Lower Broadway this Friday night.

In celebration of his new album "Fuse," Urban plans to take the stage at Legends Corner, Tootsies and The Stage starting at 9:30 p.m. Fri. September 6.

The honky-tonk "tour" was announced via a full-page advertisement that ran in Tuesday's edition of The Tennessean. The performances are open to the public, and fans were told to tune into three Nashville country radio stations to learn how to reserve a spot at one of the venues:

Legends Corner - WSIX "The Big 98"
Tootsies - WSM 95.5 FM
The Stage WKDF 103.3 FM

Urban is set to release his new album “Fuse” on Sept. 10.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Justin Moore On TV To Promote New LP And Tour

Justin entertained a live crowd (and fans online) from the FOX & Friends outdoor stage in New York City on Friday (8/30). Fans got to hear his three #1 hits – “Small Town USA,” “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” and “Til My Last Day” - as well as Justin's latest Top 10-and-climbing single "Point At You." 

The lead single will be featured on OFF THE BEATEN PATH, which is in stores on September 17.

The singer/songwriter has been previewing the new music all Summer and will embark on his OFF THE BEATEN PATH TOUR November 1 with special guest Randy Houser and Josh Thompson.