Country Bites News snippets
October 6 – October 12, 2014
SOURCES / LINKS shown in RED
UK & IRISH
News
For a full listing of 2014 and beyond UK Tour dates
PLEASE check out our Tour Dates Page
On the BBC Radio 2 Playlist UK duo Ward
Thomas with their third Radio 2 single “Way Back Then” climb from the “B”
to the “A” list for week
commencing Saturday 11th October. The third single (second from their debut
album) from Ward Thomas "Way Back When" will be released on Monday 20
October ahead of their co-headline UK tour with The Shires. Stream "Way
Back When" (Radio Version) on soundcloud
Lady Antebellum with “Lie With Me” (with its Fleetwood
Mac lifted “Seven Wonders” riffs) remain on the “B” list
Taylor Swift's POP single “Shake If Off” is removed from
the "A" Playlist but remains on
Radio 1 "A" playlist (for week commencing Oct 6th).
BREAKING NEWS: Lady
Antebellum, the seven-time Grammy-winning Nashville trio, joined BBC Radio 2's
Simon Mayo live in the studio on Monday 13th October (See BBC Page) to talk about their new album 747
and announced they are to HEADLINE the C2C Country To Country Festival on
Sunday March 8, 2014. They also speak about the subject of sounding
"contemporary" and Taylor Swift's transition to POP. "Country Music
is where we are" said Hillary Scott. "Your pushing the barrier?"
asked Simon. Their first UK single "Lie To Me" from new album 747 is
currently on the Radio 2 playlist.
They're here! @ladyantebellum are in the studio + we think @simonmayo could be the 4th member. Agree? Any questions?! pic.twitter.com/R4Nj4uzcB9
— BBC Radio 2 (@BBCRadio2) October 13, 2014
Hunter Hayes goes 'pop-western' for Britain....His entry into the
British market - which in the past has given a warm welcome to
Shania Twain and had Dolly Parton as a headliner this year at the Glastonbury
music festival - has seen his latest release
"Tattoo" re-worked for an audience that is
less familiar with country but might go for "pop-western". "This
is a new take on the song. It's a new sound for me. (It) kind of caught me off
guard at first," Hayes told Reuters in an interview in London this
week, speaking about how the sound has been reworked. Hayes had his debut London show
in the heart of the theatre district (The Drury Club, 167 Drury Lane, Covent
Garden WC2B 5PG London; See Facebook Photo ) on Tuesday Oct 7th for a
crowd of fans and media, entertaining them with tracks including his U.S. hit
"Invisible" and a cover of One Republic's "Counting Stars" as
well as "Tattoo". The 3 track EP "Tattoo" came out Oct 3rd
on UK iTunes
The St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel wrote of Facebook : Fab performance from Ward Thomas in the Booking Office last
night! The city folk are officially converts to country music
The Dexeter band are supporting first date of the Ward
Thomas and The Shires co-headline tour at The Glee Club in Birmingham on the
4th November.
The line ups for Celtic Connections (15 January to 1 February
2015) were revealed
2,100 artists, 300 events, 20 venues = 1 brilliant
festival
The Celtic Connections festival, Glasgow's perennially
popular annual festival of roots and traditional music, will run from January
15 to February 1. The programme features many key strands from previous
years, including historically themed shows, shows in memory of signature
artists, Americana, indie music and many collaborations, as well as a new theme
that highlights the story of hand made instruments from around the world. Donald Shaw, artistic director of
Celtic Connections as well as founder of Capercailie, said: "In recent
years, the festival has grown into a celebration of musical genres from all
corners of the globe and this will be just as prominent in 2015.
An opening-night tribute to the pioneering Scottish
musician Martyn Bennett, appearances by Craig Armstrong, Eddi Reader, King Creosote, Fairport Convention and American rock
band Lambchop will be highlights of
next year's Celtic Connections festival, it has been announced (Tues Oct 14th).
Lambchop will be performing their classic album Nixon.
Eddi Reader will perform her first headline show in
six years.
Patty Griffin will perform as part of Transatlantic Sessions and Grammy award
winning diva of African song Angelique Kidjo will be performing alongside the
Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Americana acts appearing: Justin Townes Earle and The Rails , Roaming Roots Revue , Nils Lofgren, Oh
Susanna, The McCrary Sisters , - Sara
Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan, Hayseed Dixie, Jeffrey Foucault and Amelia Curran, Transatlantic
Sessions - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium (Rodney Crowell,
Patty Griffin, Sara Watkins, Dirk Powell etc ) and Calexico.
More details / dates : Tour Dates Page
Book tickets by visiting Celtic Connections.com - Discount Card
Click on the event and on the
page that opens in the Top Right corner use "Book Now"
Book Glasgow Concert Hall
Tickets at Glasgow Concert Halls Events
UK CHART NEWS
Official UK Top
100 Singles Chart (Week
Ending October 18, 2014)
Taylor Swift's with her pop
single “Shake It Off” dipped 3-4 (51,174
sales) with a 8 week to-date tally of 366,207 copies. It also
Claimed the week’s most streamed track with over 1.4 million streams.
Official UK Top
100 Album Chart (Week
Ending October 18, 2014)
Lady Antebellum fell short of becoming their fourth straight #1 studio
album in America, country trio likewise fail to register their fourth
straight Top 10 album in the UK, with latest offering 747 failing to fly as high as its predecessors with a debut at No.12 selling 5,998 sales copies. Their UK breakthrough album NEED YOU NOW, a No.8
hit from 2010, remains by far their biggest seller in the UK with a to-date
tally of 349,906, while the single of the same name has sold 531,404 copies a
huge tally for a track that peaked at #15.
Dolly Parton with BLUE
SMOKE/THE BEST OF (Masterworks) fell 20-34 in her 18th
chart frame (2,800 estimated sales, 18-week
total 221,000).
Lucinda Williams with DOWN
WHERE THE SPIRIT MEETS THE BONE (Highway 20) fell 23-66 selling 1,400
copies in her 2nd chart frame.
Official UK
Country Album Chart (Week
Ending October 18, 2014)
Lady Antebellum with 747 debut at No.1 as their archive
album NEED YOU NOW moved 5-4 in its
150th chart frame.
Tim McGraw with SUNDOWN
HEAVEN TOWN (Big Machine) was down 1-2 in his third week.
The UK’s Ward Thomas with FROM WHERE WE STAND (WTW Music) rose
4-3 in their 12th week.
Blake Shelton with BRINGING BACK THE SUNSHINE (Warner
Bros) fell 2-5 in his second week.
Brad Paisley’s MOONSHINE IN THE
TRUNK slipped 6-7 in his 7th week
Kacey Musgraves with SAME
TRAILER DIFFERENT PARK (Decca) held at No.8 in her 78th chart frame
Kenny Chesney with his new
album THE BIG REVIVAL (Blue Chair)
fell 7-10 in his third week.
Lee Ann Womack with her comeback album THE WAY I'M LIVIN' (Welk) fell 10-12 in her third chart frame.
Irish favouriteDerek Ryan with THE SIMPLE THINGS slumped 3-14 in his sixth week .
On the Hotdisc Chart (October 12, 2014 Chart)
Ray Scott held onto No.1 on the Top 40 for a fifth
straight week with "Drinkin' Beer"
holding off the challenge from a batch of high new entries as tracks from the Hotdisc #190 October 2014 promotional
impacted the chart.
The Hotdisc chart is compiled from DJs and industry
professionals' ratings of songs currently being promoted on the Rush Released
CD. They are not airplay charts, as airplay charts cannot work in Europe
because there are no terrestrial country stations. As of September 2013 it was
reliably disclosed that 650 physical Hotdiscs are sent out with 350 digital
versions for people to download.
Strangely enough the Ray Price composed, "Pride" covered by Ian Highland and Frank Jennings made a debut at No.8 on the Hotdisc Top 40 and landed the No.1 slot on the British & Irish Chart in their first chart third replacing Tony Clarke’s self-penned "I Am What I Am" which slipped (5-9; 1-2 British).
The second highest new entry came from David Frizzell's re-issued "I'm Gonna
Hire A Wino" (D Blackwell) which made a bow at No.3. This forther
promotes the 2-ON-1 CD The Family’s Mine/ On My Own Again available for the
first time ever on CD via Morello Records. The third new debut in the Top 10
was US act Michael Scott with "Radio Song" (Kyle Jacobs, Billy Montana, Phil O’Donnell) which
arrived at No.7 and represented his first European release.
Outside the Top 10
US based singer-singwriter Kenny Butterill (feat. Donovan
Leitch) with his self penned “Gaia Blues”
made an entry at No.13
It is taken from Kenny’s
album TROUBADOUR
TALES, a project ten years in the making, which was released on the
31st July 2014. Early indications are the long anticipated CD has a sound and
feel that is true to Butterill’s legacy of delivering “rootsy, folksy, bluesy,
Americana, alt.country, feel good music
Atlanta native Brian Collins
with “Enjoy The Ride” blew in at
No.17. This follows his previous single “Never Really Left” (#5
peak, 13 weeks on the chart) both taken from his brand new album HEALING HIGWAY
(Oct 2014)
US singer songwriter Katie Armiger
due to tour the UK in November 2014 in support of her latest album, FALL INTO ME, which was produced by
Grammy winner Chad Carlson (Taylor Swift) made a bow at No.19 with her new single “One
Night Between Friends” . Her previous Hotdisc single “Safe” (from April’s
Hotdisc 184) enjoyed a short 5-week run with a peak of just No.25 despite the
quality of the track.
Another US act Stevie Lee Woods
with “California Girls Have Gone Country”
(Pat McManus) came in at No.20
following his single “Hey! .. What Do I Know?” (from March’s Hotdisc 183)
which reached No.9 in its 8-week chart journey.
Outside the Top 20
North 40 (Talented singers/songwriters Paige
Logan and Heather Looney), who collectively make up the high-energy new duo scored
a No.21 debut with “Whole Lot Of Livin’ (co-written with
Jennifer Denmark) taken from their debut album,
SING YOUR OWN SONG which hit music outlets on January 28, 2014.
The final notable mention
goes to newbie Tim
Cadiere with “Hop In My Truck”
(co-written with Sam McGaughey) which made a bow at No.25. The single was
released on iTunes on Oct 8, 2013 from an album to be
released titled “Proud” (6 Tone). The Houma, LA native who is based in Eatonton,
Georgia is described on his Reverbnation
Page as having soulful original songs which are known for
their cajun-country overtones with a dash of creole spunk. His set lists are
often a combination of Pop, Country, Rock and Blues which allow him and his
band, The Washboard Road Band to bring an energy-filled rockin’ good time to
any stage. They have made a true name for themselves in the Lake Oconee,
Augusta, Atlanta, and South Carolina areas.
UK COUNTRY
ALBUM RELEASES
For a full listing of 2014 Country/Alt/ Americana
albums and future releases PLEASE check out our Country Music Store Page
(7 Oct 2014) Hal
Ketchum - I'm the Troubadour
15 tracks/ Time: 56:07 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Smart Choice Music - Amazon.com
(7 Oct 2014) Ray Scott - Ray Scott (deciBel Nashville)
11 Tracks/ Time: 36:17 MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
(7 Oct 2014) Doug Seegers - Going Down To The River (Rounder)
12 Tracks/ Time:
41:33 CD - MP3
- US iTunes - Amazon.com
(13 Oct 2014) Adrian
Duffy & The Mayo Brothers - Storm Breaking (Single)
MP3
- UK iTunes The
group is an Irish country outfit whose previous records have picked up airplay
in Canada, Britain and the U.S., as well as its homeland. This pleading,
heartfelt ballad has a lustrous, layered, dreamy instrumental arrangement that
is extremely pleasing. I’ve liked these guys before. I wish they’d send me a
whole album one of these days.”
Listen on Soundcloud "this defines feel good music" - MusicRow (USA)
(14 Oct 2014) Angaleena
Presley - American Middle Class (Thirty Tigers)
CD - Smart Choice Music - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
CD - Smart Choice Music - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
(14 Oct 2014) James
Hand - Stormclouds in Heaven (Slim
Hand Music)
14 Tracks/ Time: 41:25 CD - Amazon.com -
(14 Oct 2014) Florida
Georgia Line - Anything Goes (Import)
CD
- UK iTunes (3 Nov) - Smart Choice Music [US Exclusive Deluxe] Amazon.com
(14 Oct 2014) The Swon Brothers - The Swon Brothers (Arista Nashville)
11 Tracks/ Time: 39:07 MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
(14 Oct 2014) Lonesome
River Band - Turn On a Dime (Mountain Home Music Company)
13 Tracks/ Time: 44:24 MP3 -
UK iTunes - Amazon.com
BLUEGRASS NEWS
Claire Lynch the 2013 IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year,
has announced
the release of her own Thrill Hill Records. Holiday! is Claire’s first seasonal
album and is available now at her live shows and through the Claire Lynch
website, starting 8th October.
Holiday! sets the mood for enjoying holiday traditions
and cheer. The ten-track album is melodic and contemporary with a retro charm
that harkens back to great, traditional holiday albums. Holiday! features an
array of seasonal standards like Home for the Holidays, White Christmas, and a
special version of Scarlett Ribbons with harmonies by Claire’s daughter,
Christy.
AUSSIE NEWS
Tamara Stewart will head to Nashville soon to finish
writing her 5th album and play some gigs.
Aleyce Simmonds won Independent Female artist of the Year and Lachlan and The Wildes won Best
Group or Duo at The Southern Stars Australian Independent Country Music Awards
Australian country singer Beccy Cole is soon to tour Australia with Melinda Schneider to promote their latest album together.
“Great Women of Country and the Songs that Made Them”
is a new collaboration by two of Australia’s acclaimed country singers, one of
whom is a proud member of the LGBTI community. The album contains a collection
of 22 classic country songs, brought
together by Melinda Schneider and Beccy Cole’s love of country music.
ARIA Award
nominations:
The ARIA Awards will be handed out in Sydney,
Australia on November 26.
Country artists to receive Nominations are:
Best Country Album
Adam Brand — My Side Of The Street (ABC Music/UMA)
Emma Swift — Emma Swift (Laughing Outlaw/Inertia)
Kasey Chambers — Bittersweet (Essence Group)
Keith Urban — Fuse (Capitol/EMI)
The McClymonts — Here’s To You & I (Island
Records)
Best Female Artist
Kasey Chambers — Bittersweet — Essence Group
Best Live Act
Keith Urban - Light the Fuse Tour
CANADIAN NEWS
JUNO nominee Chad
Brownlee will perform coast to coast in 2015; When The Lights Go Down Tour
will kick off in Summerside, PEI on March 4, 2015. Canadian Country Music Association Awards
(CCMA) 2014 Female Vocalist of the Year Jess Moskaluke and 2013 CCMA Rising
Star Bobby Wills will join Brownlee on the road, opening each show - mdmrecordings - whenthelightsgodowntour.com
The 3rd Annual "Warm Coats Warm Hearts"
Fundraiser hosted by lovely singer Elyse
Saunders backed up by The Justin Time Band tok place on Saturday 11th at Lake
Affect (Comfort Food & music lounge; 1 Port Street, Port
Credit, Mississauga, Ontario)
“My heart is
feeling all warm and fuzzy now, thank you to all those who attended and
donated, volunteers, agencies, sponsors and all musicians!! You all rock. I
can't wait to do this again next year”. said the excited and appreciative Peterborough,
Ontario native. See Facebook Gallery photos -
NEWS
Country Aircheck's
Insider Artist News
October 10, 2014: Nashville
Songwriters Ceremony (Hall Aboard), Sunny
Sweeney (Sweeney's Salute), Montgomery
Gentry (Safety First), Florida
Georgia Line (Goes To Show), George
Strait (Booka-what? Amazon.com)
October 14, 2014: Florida
Georgia Line (Florida Georgia Fine), Alan
Jackson (Deck The Hall), The Eli
Young Band (Deep In The Heart), Luke
Bryan (Land Of Nods), Jerrod Niemann
(Wedding Belle)
Jerrod Niemann married his longtime partner in San Juan, Puerto
Rico, on Sunday, a rep tells People magazine.
The 35-year-old country singer and Morgan Petek tied
the knot at sunset overlooking the Atlantic Ocean from atop the historic
Spanish fort Castillo de San Cristóbal, according to the rep. Niemann tells the
magazine, "I'm looking forward to
seeing what the world has in store for us as a married couple."
Lauren Alaina the American Idol finalist-turned-country
star is back in the studio and stepping back into the spotlight after
undergoing vocal
cord surgery in August. She kept the surgery a secret until making
an appearance at the Nashville premiere for the movie The Best of Me Thursday
night. Lauren explains, "I just
started singing again, and I can still do that, so that's great news. 'Cause I
was scared to death, but I'm gonna start recording here in the next couple
months and try to get everything out."
Alan Jackson played for two hours and 22 minutes during
the first of two Artist-in-Residence shows at the Country Music Hall of Fame
Wednesday night (Oct 8) in Nashville. Alan's band members say they don't
remember him ever playing a show that lasted over two hours.
Stars Light Up Nashville
Premiere of “The Best of Me”: Lady Antebellum, Thomas Rhett, Sunny Sweeney
and other stars were among the crowd of “first nighters” attending the
Nashville
premiere of the movie The Best of Me, Thursday night (Oct. 9), at the
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The movie is based on the popular novel
by Nicholas Sparks. Before the screening, several stars with ties to the movie
walked the red carpet and chatted with members of the media. Lady Antebellum wrote and recorded two
songs for the film’s soundtrack, “I Did With You” and “Falling for You.” Lady
A’s Hillary Scott explained, “One song, ‘I Did With You,’ is at the end of the
movie during the credits, when everybody in the audience is wiping their eyes
and their mascara’s running. The other song we wrote, ‘Falling for You,’ plays
during the part of the film where the guy and the girl reconnect after 21
years.” Writing a soundtrack tune was a first for the award-winning trio. “This was a new challenge for us,” said
the group’s Charles Kelley. Lady A’s Dave Haywood added, “We had a synopsis of
the movie and we were able to find some cool images to pull from. It was a
really unique writing experience for us.” Thomas
Rhett also appears on the soundtrack, performing a tune he co-wrote titled
“The Way Things Go.” Other notables on the soundtrack include pop star Colbie
Caillat and sibling quartet SHEL......Read more Watch >> Trailer
Cole Swindell made his Grand Ole Opry debut last week,
introducing a three-song set including his two consecutive chart-topping hits
“Chillin’ It” and “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight,” as well as his latest song,
“Ain’t Worth The Whiskey.”
Kelly Clarkson's first annual Christmas benefit concert
"Miracle
on Broadway" will take place at the Bridgestone Arena in
Nashville on December 20 with special guests Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood,
Garth Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, Kacey Musgraves, Hayley Williams, Charles Esten,
Meghan Trainor and more! Tickets go on sale this Saturday, Oct. 18 at 10 AM.
Proceeds going to several charitable organizations in Middle Tennessee. For
more details, visit - Team KC - Ticketmaster.com (Source
Garth Brooks has set a new personal ticket-selling record with
his 11 shows in Minneapolis starting November 6. More than 188,000 tickets have
been sold for those shows so far, which beats his previous record for a single
city -- that was 180,000 tickets sold in Chicago a few weeks back. Prior to
that, Garth's all-time ticket sales record for a single city was set in
Minneapolis in 1998, with more than 162,000 tickets sold.
Lee Ann Womack will embark on her The Way I’m Livin’ Tour
this fall. The singer has lined up nine dates on the trek so far in support of
her THE WAY I’M LIVIN’ album, released September 23. The outing will begin in
Tucson, Ariz. on Oct. 16, and ending Nov. 14 in Washington, D.C. - www.leeannwomack.com/shows
AWARDS
Mac McAnally, has won six CMA Musician of the Year awards and
if he wins again at the next ceremony, on November 5, 2014, he will become the
record holder for most consecutive wins in the category.
McAnally has been continuously nominated in the
Musician of the Year category for his guitar work since 2007 and has won each
year since 2008, tying fiddler Mark O’Connor’s run from 1991-1996. McAnally’s
current nomination puts him in elite company and the award itself has been
presented since 1988, when Chet Atkins took home the award.
Cutting Edge Of Country: Eric Church, Florida Georgia Line, And Kacey Musgraves will perform on “The 48th Annual CMA
Awards” live, Wednesday, Nov. 5 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) from the Bridgestone Arena
in Nashville on the ABC Television Network.
Hosted for the seventh consecutive year by Brad
Paisley and Carrie Underwood, Country Music’s Biggest Night™ will also feature
superstar performances by Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Kenny
Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw,
Paisley, Blake Shelton, The Band Perry, Underwood, and Keith Urban.
CMA Consideration – Luke Bryan (video) - luke-bryan-cma.herokuapp.com
American Music Awards
Luke Bryan is among an elite group of musicians
nominated in the Artist of the Year category at this year's American Music
Awards. The nominees – pulled from genres across the musical spectrum -- were
announced Monday (Oct. 13) on Good Morning America. Iggy Azalea could have a
big night nominated for six awards, including Artist Of The Year, New Artist Of
The Year and Single Of The Year.
Artist of the Year: Iggy Azalea, Beyoncé, Luke Bryan, Eminem, Imagine Dragons, John Legend,
Lorde, One Direction, Katy Perry, Pharrell William
Country Music AMA Nominations:
Favorite Male Artist (Country): Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Blake
Shelton
Favorite Female Artist (Country):
Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Carrie Underwood
Favorite Band, Duo or Group (Country): Eli Young Band, Florida Georgia
Line, Lady Antebellum
Favorite Album (Country):
Garth Brooks' (Blame It on My Roots: Five Decades of Influences), Eric
Church (The Outsiders), Brantley Gilbert (Just as I Am)
FULL line-up of nominees for the 2014 American Music
Awards at www.theamas.com
* Voting is open to people who ONLY live in the 50 US
states at ama.votenow.tv
The fan-voted winners will be named live from Los
Angeles Nov. 23 on ABC-TV.
TV
Florida Georgia Line were due in New York City to launch their new album, Anything Goes, with
a Monday night appearance on NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers. The guys won't
be getting any sleep after that appearance either. The album will go live on
iTunes at midnight, and FGL's Tyler Hubbard says, "Yeah, it’s just a
tradition just to stay up all night and watch it come on
iTunes and then watch to see what people say about
it." On Tuesday morning (Oct 14), FGL will appear throughout NBC's Today
starting at 7 a.m. in all time zones. They've got multiple appearances in New
York City lined up through the rest of the week as well. "I think it’s a perfect place to kick off
this album," says duo member Brian Kelley. "Anything Goes, and I
think New York City, what better place to represent that, you know?" FGL
will cap off the week with a performance on CMT Instant Jam Friday night at 10
ET.
"Nashville"
Recap: "I Can't Get Over You to Save My Life" -
For The Country Record Nashville’, Season 3, Episode 3 – RECAP
Who Do You Think Is The One
For Gunnar?
Last season left fans on the edge of their seats as
Rayna left a big question unanswered. Now, it's time to see the rest of the
story unfold as Rayna heads down a path to her new life. This is a season you
won't want to miss! - www.opry.com/nashville
BABY NEWS
Lone Star State hitmaker Cory Morrow is now a proud father of not one, but two new baby boys!
The singer welcomed sons Wesley and Luke on Tuesday
(Oct. 7). Morrow revealed the happy news after a few days of settling in.
“We are sooooo
happy to welcome Wesley Ray and Luke Ainsworth Morrow to our family!” he
wrote on Facebook. “The boys were born on Oct 7. Everyone is happy and healthy
and we are so grateful for God’s blessings upon us.
MUSIC NEWS
While headliners can walk away with $400,000 a night,
the opening act may lose money. The costs of touring have skyrocketed
during the last 20 years, cutting into profit margins. Although Eric Mayers,
tour manager for My Morning Jacket and other artists, says costs eat up less of
an act’s gross as venue size increases, many arena headliners walk away with
just $30 pre-tax from every $100 they earn. Jamie Cheek, an entertainment
business manager with Nashville-based accounting firm Flood, Bumstead, McCready
& McCarthy, says that roughly 40% of tour revenue goes to costs, 30%
commissions and 30% pretax, to the act. “Pricing tickets is a delicate balance
of art and science, says RZO Productions partner Bill Zysblat.“
Taylor Swift raised a few eyebrows when she dropped the
country and went full-on pop with current hit Shake It Off. But her career
gamble has paid off - and not just in terms of record sales - because she's
now been named Billboard Woman Of The Year by the influential US
record industry magazine. Billboard's parent company Guggenheim Media
commented: "Over the course of her career, she's charted 60 entries on the
Billboard Hot 100 - the most of any female artist since her debut in 2006.
"We are tremendously excited to be honouring her
as the 2014 Billboard Woman of the Year for the second time."
T-Swift last got the award back in 2011.
On the Mediabase Top 40: Swift took over the #1
position with "Shake It Off" and did so in just eight weeks. She also
topped the the Hot AC and Top 20 and continued her growth in spins
Taylor shared with Billboard “Out Of the Woods,” the latest song
lifted from her forthcoming album 1989.
The new track, written and produced by fun. guitarist/Bleachers
mastermind Jack Antonoff along with Swift, was released on iTunes overnight.
Taylor's
followers were in a frenzy over whether the track is
indeed an ode to her breakup with One Direction’s Harry Styles. By sharing the
lyrics via her Tumblr page, she merely fanned the flames. She sings, “Looking
at it now, last December/We were built to fall apart, then fall back together/
Your necklace hanging from my neck /The night we couldn’t quite
forget."
Taylor >> talks about the relationship (#extreme anxiety #frantic
#questioning #fragile) that led to the creaction of this song
The haters gonna hate see Facebook post
SINGLE / ALBUM
NEWS
Rounder Records is very pleased to announce the
signing of acclaimed GRAMMY® Award-winning singer/songwriter Shelby Lynne. Lynne recently completed
recording at Louisiana’s Dockside studio on what will be her first album since
2011’s critically lauded Revelation Road. The as-yet-untitled album is
tentatively set for release in early 2015. Additionally, Rounder will celebrate
the 15th anniversary of Lynne’s landmark breakthrough album I Am Shelby Lynne
with a special deluxe reissue of the now
classic recording, due for release October 7th, 2014.
The 2-disc (1CD/1DVD) I Am Shelby Lynne Deluxe Edition features the re-mastered
full-length album plus six previously unreleased bonus tracks from the original
sessions.
Garth Brooks revealed the cover and title for his new
album, MAN
AGAINST MACHINE. The artwork shows Garth looking very buff in dark
glasses, a close-fitting black T-shirt and his
signature black hat. "Music
has always been a reflection of where mankind is at the time,” says Garth. “For
14 years, I have watched heart and soul, dreams and individualism, fighting for
their very existence in a world of increasing technology. This album is a
reminder to all those who dream, work and fight for what they believe; do not
give up your vision.” The project, out Nov. 11, is available for pre-order on
Garth’s website, where fans can also purchase the mega-bundle of all eight of
his studio albums.
Caitlyn Smith's tunes have been cut by artist such as
Jason Aldean and Lady Antebellum. On Oct. 28, the songwriter is releasing her solo country debut, EVERYTHING TO YOU,
which includes a rendition of her song “Wasting All These Tears,” which
Cassadee Pope released as a single. “I spent two and a half years writing a few
hundred songs. Through that process, I feel like I’ve really come into my own
as an artist,” says Caitlyn. “The goal is
to write a song that moves you; whether it’s sad and makes you want to cry, or
makes you want to dance and bust a move in the kitchen, or pull your loved one
a little closer. My hope is that fans get a little bit of all of the above when
they hear Everything to You.”
PRESS RELEASES
- Lucy Hale to appear
on The
Ellen Degeneres Show October 7th Performing Her New Single “Lie
A Little Better”
- Officially
releasing October 14, sibling duo High
Valley’s new 10-song album, County Line, is available
for the deeply discounted price of $3.99 on iTunes for the next twelve
days.
- The Cains Trio the up-and-coming sibling group, will release their debut album, STAY ON BOARD,
on Oct. 28, with an iTunes pre-sale beginning on Oct. 10. Stay On Board
will be released through DayStreet Records/GMV Nashville. Listen to "Be Yourself With Me"
- Laura McCormick opens Pandora's 'Box Full Of Trouble' for
Country music's Boundaries. 2014 has been a pivotal year for country
artist Laura McCormick who recently gave up her successful career as an
ICU nurse to pursue her true passion, music.
- Toby Keith's new single raises a glass to "Drunk
Americans" (written by Brandy Clark, Bob DiPiero and Shane
McAnally) , the song celebrates those communal moments when glasses go up
and the barriers that separate us all come down. "We ain't east, we
ain't west. We ain't left, we ain't right. Ain't black, we ain't white ...
we just came here to drink," Keith sings as the tune opens, cheering
the folks who "all sing it wrong ... but we all sing along."
- Colt Ford will release his first live concert
DVD on November 11, 2014: Crank It Up! Colt Ford Live at Wild
Adventures. Produced by Eagle Rock Entertainment for Eagle Vision, and
Average Joes Entertainment, the 129-minute DVD was filmed in HD on August
2, 2014, at Wild Adventures Park in Valdosta, Georgia.
- Larry's Country Diner and Country's Family Reunion makes waves in The Caribbean!! Bill
Anderson, TG Sheppard, Mark Wills, Gene Watson, Johnny Lee, Moe Bandy,
Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, among others set to sail the high seas
- Nathan Stanley wins
"Bluegrass Album of the Year" Dove Award.
- Florida Georgia Line takes Anything Goes worldwide with
2015 major headline tour. The superstar duo will bring their seize-the-day
attitude and raucous party anthems to arenas worldwide, including a stop
at the fabled Madison Square Garden on February 25 in New York City.
- CMA Songwriters series plays Nashville Tuesday, Nov. 4 during
48th Annual CMA Awards week Festivities and will feature 2014 CMA Awards
nominees Brandy Clark and Jaren Johnston (other songwriters to be
announced soon).
- David Shelby is pleased to announce the addition of Star Farm
Nashville to his team of Music Row industry professionals to
reinforce his foothold as a major indie. Star Farm will oversee the radio
promotion campaign for Shelby’s forthcoming single, the title track, from
his new EP entitled OH YEAH.
- Irene Kelley Newsletter Wow what a month of
adventures. From Europe to Raleigh!
- A message
from Moonshine Bandits! REBELS ON THE
RUN - EP dropped Sept 30, 2014 - UK iTunes
- Brian Collins the rising singer /
songwriter debut album HEALING HIGHWAY has been released worldwide. The 13-track project
was produced by Mills Logan (Toby Keith, Alabama, Luke Bryan, Eric
Paslay), Kenny Greenberg (Toby Keith, Pam Tillis, Edwin McCain) and Brian
and is available via iTunes.
- Craig Wiseman, Bob DiPiero and other Nashville Songwriters celebrate Book Release at 3rd &
Lindsley.
- Dierks Bentley joins
Luke Bryan & Blake Shelton for Country Thunder in Twin Lakes, Wis., July
23-26, 2015.
ARTICLES
Billboard 615: Billboard Cover: Florida Georgia Line on Being ‘Professional Partiers,’ Haters and
Hip-Hop....What's striking about Anything Goes is how closely it duplicates
FGL's previous records….
Florida Georgia Line have three songs that rhyme “party” and
“Bacardi” Billboard cover story on the unlikable duo.
For The Country Record Featured: Emma
Swift EP....It’s true that Emma Swift should have been born during a
different era. Or at least, it sounds like it, if you listen to her
self-titled, 6-song EP, just released last August...... The result is artful,
soulful, creative, and the kind of sad that is so hard to find, especially as
deep and as constant as this is. Emma’s record is not for your parties, for
your good times, for drinking (unless alone and crying into your pizza), but
for thinking, for musing over things, for coming to some epic conclusions about
life that you wouldn’t have had the headspace to even consider otherwise. It’s
a truly affecting record, one that allows her to stand alone in her niche,
pushing things further than even soul sisters like Lindi Ortega and Heidi Feek
might do. She’s not for everyone, but that’s kind of the point. To find such
incredible beauty in such piercing sadness is a talent indeed…..
REVIEWS
Live Review: The Common
Linnets at Bush Hall, Friday 10th October 2014
INTERVIEWS
NPR Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn on Teaming Up, finally
Big Machine Label Group
Pres./CEO Scott Borchetta cited Country's
move into harder rocking sounds as the key to its current success. In an
exclusive Power Player interview, BORCHETTA also noted that attracting teens is
key to the format's long-term success. "Country has become the new rock,"
he stated. "Even though there's still Rock radio and new rock records,
from the moment the Country format started rocking harder, we took over. When
you look at the big festivals and see the ones headlined by Jason Aldean and
Brantley Gilbert, 25 years ago they'd both be called Southern Rock acts. It's
really the same Southern culture you heard from Lynyrd Skynyrd. The younger
listeners really create a young Country culture, which is fantastic. When our
bands get into their DNA at that age, they literally stay with them for the
rest of their lives. It can be Taylor Swift or Florida
Georgia Line; when those
records get embedded into you in your teen years, it never leaves you."
MAGAZINES
Country Music People: George Hamilton IV obituary: His life recalled by Tony Byworth - P58, JPEG - P60 JPEG - P63 JPEG
Maverick Magazine (November/ December 2014 issue; Brad Paisley feature) use the "+" and "-" selections to zoom in and out and view the individual pages. Sample the cover, Otis Gibbs, Brad Paisley feature and review - Preview
Maverick Magazine (November/ December 2014 issue; Brad Paisley feature) use the "+" and "-" selections to zoom in and out and view the individual pages. Sample the cover, Otis Gibbs, Brad Paisley feature and review - Preview
Sasha McVeigh "New To You Feature" in Maverick
- Instagram Video - Instagram Photo
Click to launch the full edition in a new window
Publishing Software from YUDU
CrXss
Country Magazine
(October 2014) Featuring Caroline King on page 6 and talks about her return and
love of country music -Cover Pic
Up Country (October 2014) Tyler Farr is their cover feature a former NRA Country artist
of the month - Cover Pic
I saw Taylor Swift In Tesco: The newly minted pastel-wearing pop star
covers the November issue of U.K.'s Vogue.
Singer and BFF to Karlie Kloss, Taylor landed her
first for the magazine wearing a sporty look featuring fall 2014 Miu Miu pieces
- Fashion Gone Rogue.com/miu-miu-fallwinter-2014 - Fashion Pic
The 80s styling that Tay has been talking about for
the album was clearly evident in her spread.
The fashion mag released a couple of excerpts, including
one where Miss Swift discussed her romantic relationships -- or rather, her
recent lack of them. "Dating or
finding someone is the last thing on my mind, because I can't picture how it
could work with the way my life is," she told the magazine. "I don't know how a guy is supposed to walk
next to his girlfriend when there are 20 men with cameras, and he can't protect
his girlfriend because that's the life she chose. I just don't see how it could
work, so I don't think about it, and I kind of run from it when it presents
itself. 'Cause I don't think any guy really…They think that they would want to
get to know me, and maybe date me, but I don't think they want what comes with
it."
Swift also discussed ditching country for her new pop
sound. "This time around I've chosen the brave and bold way of going about
things," she said. "Because with this album I've completely
changed the sound of everything I've done until now. So it's interesting to
not be afraid of that. You know, I don't want to hurt people's feelings, I
don't want to betray Nashville, whatever, but essentially it comes down to
challenging yourself as an artist." (Source: Billboard – Cover Pic)
Cover Details: Editor Alexandra Shulman; Make-up: Val Garland;
Hair: James Pecis; Fashion editor/ styling: Lucinda Chambers; Photographer:
Mario Testino. - Fashion Pic - Cover Image
a) Taylor wears nylon coat, £735. Nylon anorak, £360.
Hand-knitted cashmere/wool tank, £1,100. Quilted nylon miniskirt, £460. Leather
Point-Toe Metal Heel d'Orsy pumps (£515 - Fashion Pic) all Miu Miu - Image
b) Christopher Kane Fall 2014 Cashmere sweater
(£1,400) with bow detailing, contrast thread stitching, ruffles at Harrods/
Vintage Shorts £20, from a selection, Beyond Retro, Christian Louboutin ‘Suspenodo
Flocked Red-Sole Slingback Pump’, kitten-heel version with transparent trim -
$745.00 - Fashion Pic - Fashion Pic
c) Valentino Crepe minidress, £1,475 / Juicy Couture
'Open Stitch Cable Pullover' Wool-mix sweater £155 / Miu Miu Jacquard shoes, £610, with interesting screw heels and contrasting
print with a delicate bow - Fashion Pic
d) Coach Fall 2014 'Mohair Funnel Neck'cashmere sweater
Fashion Pic - / Emilio Pucci Silk eyelet dress
(£2,095) - Fashion Pic
e) Orla Kiely Wool cardigan £349 / Vintage bathing
costume £20 / Miu
Miu Leather shoes - Image
Taylor also appeared as Nashville Lifesyles 2014 Cover - Scanned Image - Scanned Image - Scanned Image
SPOTIFY COUNTRY
For users of this
online music streaming service here are some of the more recent additions and
recommendations.
When it's free and
easy on Spotify who needs music piracy?
Links below require you to have installed SPOTIFY and
have the application open
According to Billboard, Spotify takes the cake in the music-streaming
market, with 10 million subscribers in 57 countries worldwide. Its Strongest
markets are: Sweden Norway Denmark and Finland
The U.K. arm of
Spotify grew its revenues by over 40% in 2013, entering
profitability for the first time. According to the company’s latest
set of financial results, published by Companies House, year-on-year revenues
grew from £92.6 million ($147 million) in 2012 to £131.4 million ($210 million)
in 2013 -- a rise of almost 42%.
Of arguably greater significance, especially to
critics of the streaming model and its long term economic viability, was
Spotify U.K.’s turnaround of an £11 million ($17.6 million) net loss in 2012 to
a £2.6 million ($4.2 million) profit, after taxation, the following
year. “This growth can be attributed to a 42% year-on-year growth in U.K.
subscriptions and also to an increase in advertising revenue,” said a
spokesperson for the London-based company.
“The growth seen by Spotify Ltd (the trading name of
Spotify U.K.) mirrors the growth of digital recorded music revenues in the U.K.
in 2013, which saw digital revenues account for 50% of total U.K. record
industry trade revenues for the first time, and a 41% increase in streaming
revenues on the previous year,” a Spotify spokesperson went on to say.
Spotify's Artist Outreach Mission Leaves Some Wanting
More: Spotify had a rough couple of days last week. Besides Jimmy Buffett's petition for more
money, less problems and the ill fate of their #thatsongwhen campaign, the
streaming service's artist-only streaming sessions with the Music Managers'
Forum the Future Artists Coalition in New York City, Nashville, and Los Angeles
did not go well, according to those who spoke to Billboard....Aside from the
back-and-forth, the facts speak for themselves: Spotify was responsible for
Universal Music's 75 percent jump in streaming revenue last year, and Spotify
U.K. saw its revenue grow 40 percent in 2013. And yet album sales hit an
all-time low in August, and mid- to lower-tier artists are finding it harder to
make money by touring. Spotify may have the patience to wait out these growing
pains, but artists can't seem to afford it much longer.
FREE DOWNLOAD
South Carolina-bred Nashville-based Nikki Lane offers up her hit single
“Right Time” and album track “Wild One” from her acclaimed sophomore LP, All Or
Nothin’, produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. Download the two MP3's
(192kbps) for an email share from noisetrade
WATCH
Sturgill Simpson "Long
White Line" session was recorded live at historic RCA
Studio A in Nashville.
Matt Cornell’s latest single "Outta This Town" (#12 on Aussie CMC Countdown)
Taylor Swift surprised fans by covering Vance Joy’s “Riptide” when she headed into Radio 1 to
see Fearne Cotton on Thursday morning (Oct 9).
Jersey singer-songwriter Frankie Davies performs "The
Open Road” and "Superman"
at the Americana Music Festival & Conference 2014 in Nashville. The BBC took
three artists, nominated by their local BBC Introducing show and selected by BBC Radio 2's Bob Harris,
COUNTRY FASHION
Taylor Swift - InStyle
Magazine (November 2014) Photoshoot
Cover wearing a Louis Vuitton Fall 2014 straight-from-the-runway
look - Image
Behind-the-scenes InStyle November 2014 - Wearing a Anthropologie
‘Here & There Tee, Floral’ tee - Fashion Pic
Wearing a Mary Katrantzou Fall 2014 embroided
long-sleeve dress - Fashion Pic wore with white Mary Katrantzou Fall 2014
heeled loafers featuring geometric shapes - Fashion Pic
Taylor described the Marco de Vincenzo Fall 2014 dress
as her favourite gown from the shoot with its fall schoolgirl appeal and a shot
of rainbow sparkle colour at the slashed hem. - Image
Christian Dior
Fall 2014 fit-and-flare dress from the fall runway - Fashion Pic
Louis Vuitton Fall 2014 dress with leather and soft
white fabric with a soft neutral pout - Fashion Pic
Stella McCartney Fall 2014 dress with moody lighting and a
"working it" pose - Fashion Pic
Marco de Vincenzo Fall 2014 cut out dress - Image
Check out the Go Behind the Scenes video (at the top of
the screen) with Taylor Swift and Her (Fourth!) InStyle Cover
Taylor Swift at her Capital FM interview in London on
Oct 9, 2014 wore a matching top and skirt from Timo Weiland’s fall collection - Fashion Pic with heeled Jimmy Choo ‘Diad Ankle’ booties’
($1195.00 - Image ) and black tights. The zipper dress
detail, the forest green colour and checked pattern rocked grown up schoolgirl.
Seen outside when arriving she wore a Novis NYC ‘The Kandinsky Coat’ ($1195.00; Fashion Pic) and a Rag & Bone ‘Turn Down Fedora’
($175.00)
Taylor was seen leaving BBC Radio 2 in London on Oct 8, 2014 wearing a Tanya Taylor Resort 2015 Soft
chevron jersey crop top and pencil skirt with pink Giuseppe Zanotti ‘Suede Ankle Strap
Platform Pumps’ (Image - $750.00) Hysteric Co. ‘Pave
Triangle Drop Earrings’ ($88.00) a ‘Pave Tiny Pyramid Ring’ ($68.00) and ‘Single
Bezel Ring’ ($68.00 - Image )
People magazine October 20, 2014
Pop princess Tay wears a Donna Karan Fall 2014 wore on the
runway by Karlie Kloss - Fashion Pic
Wearing Kaufmanfranco Fall 2014 she channelled some more
Daisy Buchanan vibes carrying off the torn glitzy gown - Fashion Pic - Image (page 3)
Taylor Swift was spotted arriving at NRJ Radio in
Paris wearing a Nanushka
checked coat ($493.16) a BCBGMAXAZRIA Yaz Piping-Trim A-Line Skirt
($178.00) carrying an Aldo Frattapolesine Bag ($50.00) and donned a
pair of Jimmy
Choo Vaunt Shoes ($995.00) - Image
Appearing on The Graham Norton Show on Oct 10, 2014
the Shake It Off singer wore a fetching J. Mendel Resort 2015 body-hugging mini dress
with a floral bodice which rocked a great mixture of black, a bit of sparkle
and a pop of colour. She wore a muted lippie - Fashion Pic
COUNTRY GOSSIP
- Fans were
shocked when Jason Aldean was shut out of
this year's CMA’s and many think it was due to scandals in his
personal life. Jason says, “if they’re going to start throwing a morals
clause on awards, a lot of people should not have won Entertainer of the
Year and some people nominated this year shouldn't have been.”
- Florida Georgia Line made a big announcement Brian and his
wife added a third German Shepherd puppy to their two older
Shepherd pups. One’s in Germany right now having guard dog training where
they’re taught to attack using commands in German.
- Carrie Underwood said pregnancy’s thrown a monkey
wrench into learning how to ride the motorcycle Miranda Lambert gave her
and her husband got her a dirt bike to learn on first.
PHOTO
Jess Harper is a beauty contestant and has a mobile
equine sports therapy and rehabilitation service and is the girlfriend of Monty
Lewis, NFR calf roper. #cowgirl #vintageboots #turquoise #cowgirlcouture – Image (Laura McClure Photography)
BIRTHDAYS
October 13: Marie
Osmond (1959), Rhett Akins
(1969), Lacy J Dalton (1946), John Wiggins (1962),
October 14: Natalie
Maines (Dixie Chicks) (1974)
October 15: Kimberley
Rhoads (Little Big Town) (1969)
October 17: Alan
Jackson (1958), Earl Thomas Conley
(1941)
October 19: Jeannie C Riley (1945), Cyndi Thomson
October 19: Jeannie C Riley (1945), Cyndi Thomson
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