VERSE OF THE MONTH: “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” – Ephesians 5:19
ALBUM NEWS: In his illustrious career, Country legend John Anderson has been honored with ACM and CMA awards, topped the charts multiple times and created a legacy that continues to grow. In the heels of the 40th Anniversary since releasing his debut single, Anderson shows no signs of slowing down with his latest album, ‘Goldmine.’ The hit project was recently named one of Rolling Stone’s “40 Best Country Albums of 2015,” with Anderson also securing ink this year on Billboard.com, NASH Country Weekly, The Boot, Roughstock and many more. The latest radio single from Goldmine, “Don’t Forget to Thank the Lord,” continues its climb up the charts. Now, Anderson will set his sights on an even bigger 2016 with a packed tour schedule. More info and tour dates at www.johnanderson.com.
ARTIST NEWS: Arista's Cam recently celebrated her RIAA platinum certification of "Burning House." This is just icing on the cake for Cam with a ‘career turning’ 2015. Her debut album UNTAMED was released in time for a Christmas Stocking Stuffer, she is nominated for a GRAMMY in the Best Country Solo Performance and she will be a featured performer on the New faces Show at the 2016 Country Radio Broadcasters Convention in February.
BENEFIT NEWS: Matthew and Gunnar Nelson donated the proceeds from their holiday album ‘This Christmas’ (Stone Canyon Records/Digitally Sound Records) to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, which is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. "We've been changed men ever since our first visit to the St Jude Children's Research Hospital a decade ago. It's a humbling, inspiring experience. What struck us is that everyone at St. Jude truly CARES. No child is ever turned away due to an inability to pay. There's nothing like it in the world…it's simply magical,” said Matthew. www.matthewandgunnarnelson.com.
BLUEGRASS NEWS: The Grascals are now in their 11th year since their early days touring with Dolly Parton, with numerous number one songs and top-charting albums to their credit. And now a new release continues their legacy as one of the most powerful and groundbreaking bands in Bluegrass. The album, titled ‘And then there's this...’ is set for release from Mountain Home Music Company on January 8, 2016. Since their last album, 2013’s ‘When I Get My Pay,’ The Grascals have welcomed John Bryan on vocals and guitar. John joins the tight-knit group that is comprised of Terry Smith, Danny Roberts, Kristin Scott Benson, Terry Eldredge, and Adam Haynes. More at grascals.com.
CD RELEASES: Hank Williams Jr’s new album, IT’S ABOUT TIME, will be released January 15, 2016 on Nash Icon Records. On November 4, William’s world premiered his lead single, “Are You Ready for the Country” featuring Eric Church, across Cumulus stations nationwide. That evening, the pair opened the 49th Annual CMA Awards with the new collaboration. GRAMMY Award winner and Oscar nominee Julian Raymond produced IT’S ABOUT TIME, featuring re-recorded versions of classics like “Mental Revenge” and “Born to Boogie” with Brantley Gilbert & Justin Moore and featuring Brad Paisley on guitar, as well as new tunes Hank solely penned such as “Dress Like an Icon,” “Just Call Me Hank” and “It’s About Time.” More at www.hankjr.com.
CHART NEWS: Iconic entertainer Brenda Lee dashed to the top of the charts in late December with “Rockin Around the Christmas Tree” at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Streaming Songs and hit the top forty on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time since 1961. The Christmas standard landed in the Hot 100's top 40 for the first time since Jan. 7, 1961, when it placed at No. 18 and peaked at No. 14 the week of Dec. 31, 1960. It’s Lee’s return to the top 40 with any record since 1967 when she went to Number 37 with Ride, Ride, Ride. Lee, who celebrated her 71st birthday Dec. 11, is enjoyed the holidays at her Nashville home after performing for a packed crowd during the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Deck the Hall concert series. More at www.brendalee.com
CONCERT NEWS: After breaking nine attendance records – many his own – and selling in excess of 1.3 million tickets on The Big Revival Tour, Kenny Chesney wanted to harness the energy of last year’s audiences. Naming his 2016 tour ‘Spread the Love’ to reflect the ‘No Shoes Nation’s’ passion for living life and loving music, he’s announcing the first wave of shows for 2016 – starting with the already-on-sale April 23 concert at Auburn’s Jordan Hare Stadium. With the core line-up of Miranda Lambert, Sam Hunt and Old Dominion for these shows, a few cities will see a surprise artist in Hunt’s slot. Miranda Lambert appeared at last year’s Soldier Field show – and the chemistry sparked this year’s re-teaming. Details at www.kennychesney.com.
CRS NEWS: Capitol's Keith Urban is the recipient of the 2016 CRS Artist Humanitarian Award, to be presented during the Country Radio Seminar opening ceremonies on February 8th. Last year's recipients, Lady Antebellum, will present the award to Urban. "Keith Urban is a true humanitarian who gives out of love, passion, spirit, and generosity," says CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne. Keith’s high profile position as an ‘Idol’ Judge will kick off with the first episode of the “Farewell Season,” airing Wednesday January 6th at 7pm CST & 8pm EST on Fox Networks.
COUNTRY MUSIC HALL of FAME NEWS: The Country Music Hall of Fame & museum celebrated their one millionth visitor in 2015 on Friday, Dec. 4. The milestone is a first for the museum in a calendar year. To mark the occasion Country Music Hall of Fame Member, Brenda Lee, was on hand to present a huge prize to the lucky guests. The Davis Family – Andy, Latisha, Abby, and Hunter – from Woodbury, Tenn., received a gift package that included a $500.00 shopping spree, tickets, hotel accommodation and round trip airfare for the 2016 CMA Music Festival, tickets for the 50th Annual CMA Awards and more.
INDIE NEWS: The guys of Blackberry Smoke had a groundbreaking year, releasing their critically-acclaimed fourth studio album, HOLDING ALL THE ROSES, playing sold-out shows around the world, including shows with legendary rock band ZZ Top, performing on Conan, participating in the sold-out Warren Haynes Christmas Jam and donating $15,000 to CURE Childhood Cancer and $15,000 to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The band is kicking off 2016 with a headliner spot on the maiden voyage of The Outlaw Country Cruise with Lucinda Williams, The Mavericks, Bobby Bare and many more for four rebellious days at sea. Additionally, the band will criss-cross the country, with shows scheduled for North Carolina, Alabama, Virginia, Ohio and many more and internationally. Info and tour dates at www.blackberrysmoke.com.
INDUSTRY NEWS: Congrats to my good friend Joe Kelly and CDX Nashville. They were nominated as finalist for the Innovator of the Year Award for 2015 by the Nashville Technology Council for its revolutionary airplay monitoring software TrAction. Winners will be announced at the Annual Nashville Technology Council Awards on January 28, 2016. TrAction's technology can seamlessly monitor and detect airplay on all radio stations which stream their broadcast signals on their websites. This includes terrestrial as well as internet-only stations. TrAction will provide record labels, booking agents, managers, publicists, publishers, performing rights organizations and independent artists immediate, actionable data based on real airplay that will empower everyone in the business to formulate targeted and focused marketing and promotion plans. More at www.cdxnashville.com.
INT’L MUSIC NEWS: Big Label/Thirty Tigers' artist Aaron Watson will take his The Underdog Tour overseas in January. The first stop is Toulon, France then on to U.K. and Italy… Breakout artist Allie Louise has been making her mark on the music scene in Europe in 2015. Both her debut and sophomore singles made the Top 5 in Euro charts. Her first single release, “It’s Getting Old,” recently cracked the Music Row Breakout Chart in the USA, having already hit Number One on the HotDisc UK charts. Allie Louise’s self-titled EP is scheduled for a January 2016 release. More at www.allielouiseofficial.com.
LABEL NEWS: (Cold River Records) Cold River has signed artist Drew Baldridge. The singer-songwriter’s debut single "Dance With Ya" will go to radio at the end of December with an EP expected early 2016.
(MCA Records) MCA singer/songwriter Kip Moore spent the last three years touring non-stop and writing for the follow up to his debut album that spawned three No. One hits and multi-PLATINUM sales. What resulted is "the year's most honest album" (Rolling Stone), with WILD ONES garnering praise on "Best Of" lists by Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, Rolling Stone, Sounds Likes Nashville and Brooklyn Magazine. Moore also looked to give back in the face of a wildly successful year, launching his first charitable initiative known as the “Comeback Kid Skatepark Project.” Phase one of the project oversaw the construction of a series of skateparks in Nashville, TN; Boston, MA; San Marcos, TX; and Annapolis, MD to benefit communities and “comeback kids.” The project stemmed from Moore’s desire to provide an alternative outlet for youth to engage in healthy habits and physical activities like skateboarding. Details at www.kipmoore.com.
(Valory Music Company) Proving he “isn’t afraid to do things his own way” (Forbes), Thomas Rhett earned the No. One spot on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in the final days of December with “Die A Happy Man” from his sophomore album, TANGLED UP marking five consecutive Number Ones. While continuing to hold its place on the iTunes all-genre Top 10 chart, "Die A Happy Man" earns PLATINUM certification by the RIAA. 2015's CMT ON TOUR marked Thomas Rhett's first headlining tour. He will continue in the momentum as direct support on Jason Aldean’s WE WERE HERE 2016 TOUR kicking off in January. For more information and for a full list of upcoming tour dates, visit www.thomasrhett.com
MEDIA NEWS: Nashville’s Atlantic/WMN's Brett Eldredge celebrated his fourth consecutive Number one single. "Lose My Mind" received a RIAA Gold certification (+ 500,000 Sales). It is also the lead single from his second album ILLINIOS. The previous three # 1 singles are as follows: “Don't Ya”, "Beat of the Music" and “Mean to Me." More on Brett at www.bretteldredge.com.
MUSIC NEWS: Dierks Bentley will headline the indoor and outdoor concert series as part of the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star festivities Jan. 28-31 in Nashville. Also among the artists appearing are Eli Young Band, Tracy Lawrence, Lonestar, LOCASH, Mercy Me, John Hiatt, Big & Rich, Lee Brice, Chris Young and Kelsea Ballerini. Tickets to the 2016 NHL Fan Fair™ presented by Bridgestone are available now through the Bridgestone Arena box office and all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children between the ages of 3 and 12, seniors, and college students or military personnel with a valid ID. Children under the age of 3 will be admitted for free. For full ticket information, performance times and the latest 2016 NHL Fan Fair™ presented by Bridgestone news, fans should visit NHL.com/FanFair.
NEW CD RELEASES: January 12th: Robbie Johnson’s ‘DON’T LOOK BACK’ (Label: Contrast)/On January 15th Hank Williams, Jr. ‘IT”S ABOUT TIME’ (Label: Nash Icon) / Brothers Osborne ‘PAWN SHOP’ (Label: EMI Nashville) / January 22nd: Steve Dorian ‘LIVING’ (Label: Self Released) Aubrey Sellers ‘NEW CITY BLUES’ (Label: Carnival / Thirty Tigers) / Diana Corcoran ‘IN AMERICA’ (Label: Krian Music Group)
NUMBER ONE NEWS: Old Dominion began 2015 as “one of country music’s few current self-contained bands” (NPR) before signing with RCA Nashville in February of this year. By the end of 2015, they were celebrating a two-week No. 1 debut single, “Break Up With Him.” Selling out shows in Chicago, New York City, San Diego, Boston, Milwaukee and their upcoming show on January 14th at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, the band has been tapped for CRS 2016’s New Faces of Country Music Show. Old Dominion is currently on their Meat And Candy Tour through 2016 before rejoining Kenny Chesney in 2016 on his Spread the Love Tour. For tour dates go to www.olddominionband.com.
ROAD NEWS: Several fan-favorite female artists have joined together for a new tour. Hitting the road will be Katie Armiger, Hannah Blaylock and Jamie O’Neal. They have welcomed newcomer Andrea Pearson for ‘It’s A Girl Thing,’ an all-girl, music-filled evening of hits and fan favorites. In 2000, Jamie O’Neal came ot swinging with back-to-back number one singles (There is No Arizona, When I Think About Angels) and her freshman album went gold. Katie Armiger jumped into the Nashville country music scene at the young age of 14, charting 5 Billboard singles, and Hannah Blaylock (former lead singer of Eden’s Edge) is known for such hits as ‘Amen’ and ‘Too Good To Be True’ while at Big Machine Records. British Columbia native singer/songwriter Andrea Pearson rounds out the tour. Dates TBA.
SINGLE NEWS: Rising country duo LOCASH was back at the top of the charts in December, but this time with their own hit single “I Love This Life” at No. 1 on The Music Row Country Breakout Chart. The single also continues to climb the Top 10 of the Billboard Country Airplay chart and landed at No. 31 on iTunes "Best Country Songs of 2015." “It’s an honor to see our name in the No. 1 spot on the Music Row Chart! Thank you to all our friends at Country Radio,” Preston Brust & Chris Lucas of LOCASH said. Brust and Lucas penned “I Love This Life,” which is their highest charting single to date. LOCASH released their first EP I LOVE THIS LIFE on their new label Reviver Records, produced by Lindsay Rimes and David Ross. More at locashmusic.com.
TOUR NEWS: The Kruger Brothers have announced tour dates for 2016. Born and raised in Europe, brothers Jens and Uwe Kruger began singing and playing instruments at a very young age, and began their professional career in 1979. With the more recent addition of New York City native, Joel Landsberg,, the trio has been performing together since 1995, and is now based in Wilkesboro, NC. In addition to their regular concert schedule as a trio, The Kruger Brothers perform classical pieces regularly with select symphony orchestras and string quartets throughout the country. More 2016 tour info at www.krugerbrothers.com.
TV NEWS: The new season of Trisha Yearwood's series ‘Trisha's Southern Kitchen’ premieres on January 2 at 9:30CST and 10:30 EST on the Food Network. Season seven includes a trip to the Country Music Hall of Fame, a dinner with Reba McEntire, a visit to Graceland and a Habitat for Humanity build. Info at www.trishayearwood.com.
WHO'S LOOKING * WHO'S CUTTING: Allison Bray, Brad Paisley, Logan Mize, Ryan Griffin, Mike Short and Chase Rice.
Have a BLESSED & HAPPY NEW YEAR! -- PH