Monday, 17 November 2014

Country Bites News snippets Nov 3 – Nov 9, 2014

Country Bites News snippets November 3 – November 9, 2014

SOURCES / LINKS shown in RED

UK & IRISH News

UK & IRISH News
For a full listing of 2014 and beyond UK Tour dates PLEASE check out our Tour Dates Page

TV ALERTS


14th November; 'Bob Harris: My Nashville' goes out at 22:00 on BBC Four - BBC Page
  • In the programme Bob Harris explains how Nashville became Music City USA and explores the city. As part of the show the BBC filmed a special house concert at Beth Nielsen Chapman’s house. There are a whole range of fantastic musicians featured including Beth, Callaghan (UK), Jason Isbell, John Fullbright and more, performing or giving interviews. Watch back BBC iPlayer
  • Once that show is finished, at 11pm, you can hit the Red Button and watch 'Back to Beth’s' to see the whole, uninterrupted house show: Filmed last November a few days after the 2013 CMA awards, a House Concert brought some of the greatest songwriters and artists in the city into Beth Nielsen Chapman's front room – sharing stories and songs over some home-cooked food and cold beers. Watch favourites like Gretchen Peters, Suzy Bogguss and Beth Nielsen Chapman performing in this environment in a uniquely ‘Nashville’ experience (you can see the whole concert on the BBC Red Button on 14th November).
  • 14th November: Watch Brad Paisley and Friends on BBC4 23.00
Bob Harris and his BBC Radio 2 team clocked up some more hours backstage at the Country Music Association Awards, adding a dozen more live sessions to the Bob Harris archive and brought “the best of Nashville” to the masses with a three hour Radio 2 show presented by Patrick Kielty live from Music Row (2pm Wednesday 5th November) 

(Nov 6) Amy Wadge the Wales-based songwriter originally from Bristol was totally ecstatic when she announced that a song that she co-wrote with Ed Sheeran had gone to No1 on the UK chart. 'Thinking out Loud' hit the number one spot last Sunday (89,475 overall units, 73,832 sales, 15,643 streaming points (496,033 total sales including streaming sales) and it also helds the record for the longest ascension to Number one in chart history having been in the top 20 for a staggering 19 weeks before hand. It is also entering it's 4th week at number one in Australia as well as being number one in many other territories. The video has also had more than 26 million views on YouTube.
Thinking” has had a very different profile to the previous record holders, and has spent its entire life thus far in the Top 30, debuting as an album track, and gaining strength after becoming an official single, with the resulting surge in radio and TV support conveying it to the summit.
Chart Run: Moving 26-25-29-23-28-20-18-16-13-17-18-24-19-18-17-10-4-2-1
In the New Year Amy was thrilled to announce that she will be doing a solo tour with Luke Jackson as a double headliner.  

Ward Thomas on Istagram (Nov 4th) commented AND WE'RE OFF!! #homegrowntour @theshiresuk Can't contain the Excitement!!

Hannah Jane Lewis is excited to announce the launch of her next EP titled RUN WITH ME will take place at The Borderline in London on January 17th.
Appearing: Hannah Jane Lewis + Dexeter + Jess Roberts
When: Saturday 17th January 2015, 7:00 pm - 10:30 pm curfew BUY TICKETS Tickets: £5 Adv

Sam Hollyman announced Nov 3rd on Twitter he will he proudly supporting US recording artists Katie Armiger and Holly May at Birmingham The Glee Club on 18th November "Awesome"!  
Katie Armiger tweet  @katiearmiger @HollyMayCountry: Grand Ole Opry with @katiearmiger #opry #Nashville #fun

Pete Kennedy the Birr, County Offaly, Republic of Ireland native and 2 time BRITISH Country Music Award recipient now based in Nashville along with UK act Lucy May joined Brian Collins and Riah Butler at the Bridgestone Arena Glass Tower Stage on November 6th (11am - 2 pm) sponsored by Europe’s #1 Country Station: CMA Nashville - Photo

The British Country Music Awards (BCMAwards) are presenting "The Songwriters Round" featuring Gary Quinn, Luke & Mel (Thomas), Jess Roberts, Emma Jane and US act Beau Fuller on the line up. It takes place at The Wick (Cre8 Life Style Centre, 80 Eastway, E9 5JH London) on Saturday, November 22, 2014. Early Bird tickets cost £7 - Event Detail

Charlotte Howard is described as “one of the UK's top singer/songwriter, country artist” . The 22-year old (born Dec 17, 1991)
Singer-songwriter who hails from a small village, Barnham West Sussex attends BIMM (Brighton Institution Of Modern Music)
For the past 3 years she has been writing her own material with a lot of country influences reaching from Miranda Lambert to Reba McEntire. Charlotte writes: “Country music always meant something to me, the way the misc makes me feel and how I can connect with the songs is something I can relate to. With every song I write, I am trying to connect with my audience on a very personal level. Even though i focus my song writing and guitar playing on a country route, I sing a wide range of styles of music from Amy Winehouse to Whitney Houston. I've had many gigs performing covers, often tailored to specific requests, in addition to my own material. I also perform a tribute to Adele (Adele 4u )”
You can listen to her music on soundcloud.com and even book her to perform at your special event entertaining your guests at any occasion. Visit her website and Facebook Page

Invitation to a “buckets of charisma” House Concert with Ashton Lane featuring Esther O’Connor; the daughter of Wet Wet Wet’s Graeme Duffin singing “husky poppiness as fiery and precocious as her red hair”; with support by Eleonora Gravagna.
Where: Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 4LF. When: Sat 13th Dec 2014. Food from 6pm. Concert @ 7pm sharp.
Listen to Esther O’Connor/Ashton Lane music at Reverbnation.com Reserve your seat with an Advanced Donation online via Paypal or Phone at www.chapelahouseconcerts.co.uk

Sera Owen has a new EP titled COLLIDE out on November 24th. Inspired by the Celtic landscape and folktales of her native Snowdonia, bilingual singer-songwriter Sera presents her new EP “effortlessly fusing alt country & nu folk into an explosion of melodies and stories”. This EP (3 English songs and 1 Welsh song) is really a collection of love stories of the past and
present, of chance encounters and life-changing moments. It sees SERA focus on her new
found love of writing with the guitar, instead of always on the piano, and is a subtle change of direction which takes her more into the country side of folk than ever before. With a love of artists such as First Aid Kit and Norah Jones she is a songwriter with who really embraces the art of storytelling in her music.
SERA’s back catalogue includes her album Dream Catcher, with tracks playlisted on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio London and other regional BBC channels, and has been supported by BBC Introducing, Tom Robinson’s Fresh on the Net, Amazing Radio, Heart FM and was Artist of the Week on BBC Radio Wales. SERA has played gigs with an array of contemporary songwriters such as Al Lewis, Amy Wadge and Winter Mountain, and has opened shows in North Wales for Mumford and Sons and Midge Ure. Find out more at www.seraofficial.com

Annie Marks releases second album. UKCountryRadio.com’s next Live Music Night takes place at Bistro Guy, Gillygate in York on Saturday 22nd November (Alan West). November's UKCountryRadio.com Spotlight UK Artists: Nov 7-9: Graham Lister, Nov 14-16: The Outwoods County Riders, Nov 21-23: Gary McGill and Nov 28-30: Lesley Curtis.
Read much more in the UKCountryRadio.com Listeners' Club Newsletter for November.

UKCountryRadio.com launch two brand new CD production and album services for country music artists:
(i) Pro-Package Teaming up with Justin Johnson, a full-time record producer, at Parr Street Studios in Liverpool, who spent nine years working in Nashville before moving to the UK with his British wife. Costs: £9,950 for a 10-track album £5,950 for a 6-track EP (incl 1000 CD's in jewel cases, shrink-wrapped and retail-ready, studio music video, photoshoot etc) .

As part of the deal it includes a 4-week “Mega Promotion” on UKCountryRadio.com [whose claim to fame is “Playing the Hottest Country Music for the UK”] with a full page ad in their Listeners' Club Newsletter, a Standard brick on UKCR Wall for one year
, promotions through their social media and more besides.
(ii) Budget Production And Promotion Package: Richard Freeman of Safety Zone Studios is a new recording facility nestled in the beautiful Peak District , Richard, a guitarist with over 40 years musical and recording experience, has a real musician's passion for making good music sound better. Cost: £199 for an album of up to 10 tracks £129 for an EP of up to 6 tracks £30 for recording of one track. For FULL details visit www.ukcountryradio.com

Artists who have already used the studio facility at Parr Street Studios include Sam Hollyman who had a British & Irish Hotdisc single #1 though his music doesn’t seem to sell at online retail on Amazon UK or UK iTunes. Mike Ward who was a finalist on The Voice UK in 2013 recorded a 6-track EP also snagged a British & Irish Hotdisc single #1 and charted as high as #3 for on one day on UK iTunes Country Chart. His October EP launch, promoted by Justin Johnson, was cancelled due to low ticket sales.
Now we see Glasgow duo Raintown who were made UKCountryRadio.com’s UK Artist of the Year (presented by Justin Johnson) and BCMAward 2013 Duo of the Year winners (voted by a self appointed panel) plan to record a FULL album there.  
The much hyped duo comprising Paul Bain and Claire Bain (formerly McArthur) were recently married and “launched” a Pledge campaign in order to fund the project lighting the fuse the day before Bonfire Night as they set off on a luxury cruise (image)on their honeymoon!
Facebook Post Our home for the next 10 days & we are loving it! Off to Athens tomorrow & will upload more pictures! Paul&Claire xx #honeymoon
Raintown launch their Pledge Campaign on their honeymoon























As they enjoy themselves in Athens, Cyprus, Rome and Sicilia (tweet) they are asking fans (16.6K Facebook Followers) to freely donate and dig deep on an “ambitious campaign” that “will be short (40 DAYS) and not without risks”. The project, if funded, recorded at Parr Street will be mixed in Nashville by Billy Decker who has worked with top Nashville artists including Darius Rucker, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean and LeAnn Rimes. Raintown who last released an album over 4 years ago in 2010 have been working with UK and Nashville Song-Writers including Beau Fuller, Brian Hughes and Stevie Kane to bring the very best album they can.
Doing the maths the project GOAL adds up to over £12,000.
So far 111 fans have pledged, reaching 34% of Goal with 31 days left which is an average of £36/ pledge.
If you don’t mind ordering a meal without knowing what is on the menu than the pledges for the Digital Download of the album (£8) or signed copy (£10) seem OK. Other store options include Skype Call + Song of Your Choice (sing For You)  for £40 to a Acoustic House Concert + Signed CD for £510 (neither of the duo play an instrument) to a jaw dropping £1000 X2 Studio Experience & Executive Producer Credit when you go to Parr Street Studios and spend the morning with the whole team and see all the “magic of making this recording happen before your eyes” !?!.
A few lines from a new song written with Brian Hughes for all the haters called 'Shut the Front Door.'

This is the second time in a week that a UK country act has included a £510 - £1,000 House Concert package in their Pledge Music Campaign. Raintown describe themselves as a “history making” duo and “are fast gaining the reputation as one of the hottest Country acts in Europe” One Raintown fan obviously believes the blurb and actually commented “I think the house concert is a bargain”!!
Fans can freely pledge money but these money making exercises go against the grain about what House Concerts are about and setting such high benchmarks could effect the UK House Concert scene.
House concerts are a phenomenon that have been catching on all over the world. In the USA, SLAMM Magazine had this to say:
"Frustrated by the distance traditional venues put between artists and their audiences, these concerts sought to bring the music back to places where artist and listener shared the same few feet of floor space. Almost all of the concerts are acoustic, focusing on the long-ignored art of the singer/songwriter"
A host invites an artist to their home they do NOT pay for them come. This can be arranged at the start of a tour or fit in with the artists tour schedule to cut travelling/fuel costs down. The artist has NO venue, food or accomodation costs.
The cost of a House Concert ticket depends on what is agreed with the artist (Suggested donations £10 - £15, normally 20 – 35 people). If a lot of people have applied for tickets sometimes it is moved away from a private home to a local room/ hall.
ALL money donated by the audience goes to the artist along with the sales of CDs and merch. By the time the host has hired chairs and provided food for a party, each show costs money. Read more about House Concerts at bbc.co.uk

Adrian Gibson Music Productions Ltd. (website) presents Grass Roots Music UK featuring "the cream of new UK folk, Roots & Country artists"
Appearing: Red Sky July, Balsamo / Deighton, Raintown, Lucy-May & Frankie Davies 
Where: London 229 (Great Portland Street, W1W 5PN LONDON) MAP - Event Details - Graphic 
When: Monday 24 November 2014.
This special event will feature a set from each artist showcasing their great individual talents which are already earning themselves recognition from fans, media and industry alike.
229 is a multi-purpose entertainments venue which first opened its doors in 1965 as part of International Students House (ISH). In April 2007 after a major refurbishment and a technical overhaul, 229 was launched as a dedicated live music and entertainments venue. Over the past two years, major technical improvements have been made to the two room, 760 capacity venue including most recently the installation of a D&B PA system in Venue 1 (620 capacity) and a new stage, PA and lighting in Venue 2 (140 capacity). Over £250k has been invested in PA and lighting in both rooms.


C2C Country to Country Norway (Sat Feb 28 - Sun March 1st)  Da er siste artist blitt bekreftet til #C2C2015! Doug Seegers blir med Luke Bryan, Florida-Georgia Line og Brandy Clark i Spektrum søndag 1. mars! Graphic

UK CHART NEWS

Official UK Top 100 Singles Chart (Week Ending November 8, 2014)

Taylor Swift's pop single “Shake It Off” fell 3-5 (29,528 sales, 12-week total 547,743).
It was congratulations to Cheryl, who has scored her fifth UK No1 (!0th #1 in total, four chart toppers with Girls Aloud) with “I Don’t Care” (selling 82,346 copies; 4,500 of them streaming sales) which she performed live on the X Factor results show.In doing so, the singer now holds the record for the most UK No1s for a British female artist. In addition to I Don’t Care, Ms. Fernandez-Versini has topped the chart with Fight For This Love (2009), Promise This (2010), Call My Name (2012) and Crazy Stupid Love (2014). The star overtakes previous record sharers Geri Halliwell and Rita Ora, who each lay claim to four Number 1 singles.

Official UK Top 100 Album Chart (Week Ending November 8, 2014)

Taylor Swift with her POP album 1989 fell 1-3 (29,203 sales; 2-week total 119,539) after it opened atop the UK chart with sales of 90,336 copies. Her previous album RED moved up 82-66 with sales around 1,200 in its 87th week on the top 100. That album opened with at #1 with sales of 61,779 and fell 1-5 in its second week selling 20,696 units.
Dolly Parton with BLUE SMOKE/THE BEST OF (Masterworks) rebounded 44-30 in her 22nd week (3,800 estimated sales, 22-week total 231,400) getting a bounce from her BBC 4 documentary during the Country Music Association awards week.
Lady Antebellum with 747 (Decca) fell again 71-90 (sales less than 1,200 copies, 5-week total 14,300)

Official UK Country Album Chart (Week Ending November 8, 2014)
Lady Antebellum with 747 held at No.1 for a fifth week.
C2C2015 festival artists Florida Georgia Line debut with ANYTHING GOES at No.2.
Kacey Musgraves with SAME TRAILER DIFFERENT PARK climbed 6-3 in its 82nd week.
Sheryl Crowe’s FEELS Like HOME with a BBC Radio 2 single playlisted moved 5-4 (41 chart weeks)
The UK’s Ward Thomas with FROM WHERE WE STAND (WTW Music) fell 3-5 in their 16th week.
Lee Ann Womack with THE WAY I'M LIVIN' (Sugar Hill) improved 14-9 in her 7th chart frame.
A new John Denver set ALL OF MY MEMORIES made a debut at No.11

On the Hotdisc Chart (November 9, 2014 Chart)  

Ray Price’s duet feat. Martina McBride “An Affair To Remember” enjoys a second successive week atop the chart in its 5th chart frame having ben in the top 2 the whole time.
While a song written by Ray, "Pride," moved up 3-2 by British singers Ian Highland and Frank Jennings (fifth week at No.1 slot on the British & Irish Chart)


As the latest tracks from the Hotdisc #191 November 2014 promotional disc began to impact the chart saw the highest new entry to bag the Hotdisc Hotshot Debut trophy debut at No.3 from Merle Haggard with “That’ll Be The Day” (Buddy Holly/Norman Petty/ Jerry Allison). It’s the first single from the new Buddy Holly Tribute project titled REMEMBER ME compiled by David Frizzell.

US duo Native Run held at No.4 with their highest rank after 9 chart weeks.
Ray Scott’s 7-week No.1 "Drinkin' Beer" retreated 2-5.
Brian Collins with “Enjoy The Ride” reached yet new heights with a 8-6 hop.

US country superstar and Forbes A-lister Toby Keith continues to promote his music to Europe courtesy of Hotdisc as he returns at No.7 with brand new radio single “Drunken Americans” written by a trio of CMA Award winners (Brandy Clark/Bob DiPero/Shane McAnnally). Previous singles have included viral smash hit “Red Solo Cup” (HD156, #2 peak), “Beers Ago” (HD161; #3 peak),  “I Like Girls That Drink Beer” (HD166; #1 peak) , “Rockin Around The Christmas Tree” (HD168; #5 peak), “Hope On The Rocks” (HD170, #2 peak), “Drinks After Work” (HD177; 3 weeks at #1) and last single from Dec 2013  “Shut Up And Hold On” (HD180; #3 peak)

Also new on the chart at No.8 (No.2 on the British & Irish Chart) is 11-year old Megan Adams launching her first solo single with an adaption of “Travellin’ Soldier” (written by Bruce Robinson). Megan who hails from Stirling in Scotland, shot to fame at the age of 10 as one of the five Poppy Girls, who came together to launch the 2013 Poppy Appeal. Their single reached the British Top 20 Singles chart and appeared in front of Her Majesty The Queen and The Prime Minister at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Festival of Remembrance broadcast live on BBCTV. On a memorable day Megan was shocked to find her father had flown over from Armed Forces duties on the other side of the world to be there and the tear-jerking moment went viral. Megan, now 11, will continue to support PoppyScotland with appearances over the coming months.
"Travelin' Soldier" was originally recorded by American country music artist Bruce Robison in 1996. The first rendition to be issued as a single was by The Dixie Chicks back in December 2002, from their album HOME. It became the group's sixth and final single to reach No.1 on Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The track has appeared on Hotdisc before when British singer  Rosie Horne recorded a great version of it.
To put a Scottish twist on it the adaption on Megan’s cut includes the use military drummers and bagpipes and was released on UK iTunes on Nov 3, 2014. Well done to all concerned!

James Carothers with his self penned “New Country Singers” make his debut with a bow at No.9 drawn from his album HONKY TONK LAND.

Outside the Top 10
US based singer-singwriter Kenny Butterill with “Gaia Blues” slipped 7-11 as UK bound Katie Armiger with “One Night Between Friends” falls back 2 places 10-12.
Regular Hotdisc US act David Starr debuts his new self penned single “Feel Like Coming Home” at No.13 from the album ALIVE AGAIN. Previous singles include title cut “Alive Again” (HD179; #13 peak), “Way Past Ready” (HD182; #6 in 12 weeks), “Underneath The Clear Blue Skies” (HD184; #10 peak in 10 week run), and recent single “Everything Is Made In China” (HD187; #5 peak in 13 weeks)
Michael Lusk with “My Best Friend” (written by Andrew Kay) lands at No.14 from his album ANZAC DAY. He last charted with “Try” (HD169; 3 weeks at #2)

USA duo Beau + Luci land another single with their self composed “Mosaic” at No.16. Their last single “Fire” sits one place behind at as it falls 11-17 having reached a No.10 peak in 9 weeks after an initial #25 debut
Former CMA Horizon of the Year winner Jo De Messina made her Hotdisc debut at No.10 with “He’s Messed Up!!!” co-written with Alyssa Bonagura. The track comes from the $120,000 crowd funded album ME.

British regular Tony Clarke charts his latest new self penned single “Raise The Bar” at No.19 (No.3 British & Irish Chart). His most recent singles include “You & Me” (HD185; #12 peak), “Put That Country Song On” (HD187; #14 peak) and “I Am What I Am” (HD189; #3 peak)
Canada’s Gordon Jensen with his self penned title cut “Miranda In The Moonlight” blew in at No.20

Outside the Top 20
Norway artist Karin Wright with “Like A Fading Rose” (co-written with Johanna Demker) debuts at No.24 from the CD YOU GOT THE SILVER. Previously she charted with “Dancing In My Mind” (HD152; #16 peak) and “Too Rock N Roll For Country” (HD156; #9 peak).
US singer-songwriter Madeline Smith with “Stay” makes a bow at No.25 with her self written tune. Previous singles were  “State Of Mind” (HD177; #16 peak) and the lovely “Catchin' Fireflies” (HD187; #20 peak in 9 weeks)

Southbourne Dorset and local high street busker Owen Moore enters the chart at No.26 with fun ditty “Two Cats” which might have been another time consuming exercise recorded in his suite of studios on the PC in his lounge! Owen has charted with “Baby, Let's Drive” (HD153; #16 peak), “True Love And Romance” (HD158; #29 peak) and “A Dollar Short” (HD164; #20 peak).

US act David Wood has charted numerous singles over the years. It seems Christmas has come very early as “Ralph The Sneaky Elf” arrives at No.34 with a re-issue of the same track (?) which first appeared on Hotdisc 180 reaching No.20. Previously “Memories Are Made Of This” (HD182; 17 week run #4 peak), “My Side Of The Fence” (HD185; #14 peak in 9 weeks) and most recently “Who Left The Door To Heaven Open” from August’s HD188 disc had 3 weeks at #4 in a 13-week frame. He reached #1 with “My Dash” for 3 weeks on HD158.

See if you agree or disagree with how the Hotdisc DJ’s and industry folks are rating the latest Hotdisc 191 singles by checking out this Spotify playlist:
Links below require you to have installed SPOTIFY and have the application open



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

(11 Aug 2014) Bernie Nelson - Blue (Import)
13 Tracks CD - CDBaby - UK iTunes - Amazon.com  

(8 Sep 2014) Orfila - Writing On the Wall (Somebody's Music)
11 Tracks/ Time: 43:24 Country/Folk MP3 - UK iTunes
Maverick Magazine  November/December issue: Album Review Page 105 (3 Stars)
ORFILA are an acoustic folk/pop trio consisting of siblings Abi, Louise and Matt Orfila from Folkestone in Kent. They are all accomplished musicians and songwriters in their own right.

(10 Nov 2014) Garth Brooks - Man Against Machine (Sony Music)
CD - Smart Choice Music (£12.99; UPC  888750113528) - Amazon.com 
* ONLY available as a FULL Album download on www.ghosttunes.com/garth-brooks

(10 Nov 2014) Jeff Bates - Me & Conway Import (Red River Entertaint) Import
12 Tracks/ Time: 42:40 CD - US iTunes - Smart Choice Music - Amazon.com

(10 Nov 2014) Various Artists - BBC Radio 2's Sounds Of The 80s (Rhino)
2-CD 37 Tracks CD  BBC Radio 2's Sounds Of The 80s is a unique collection of tracks recorded by some of the biggest artists around, every track is a cover version of a song from the 80s and has been carefully chosen by the artist specifically for this album. Country interest comes from 3 UK Radio 2 playlisted country/poip artosts and superstar Dolly!
Disc 1 Track 14: The Shires - Islands In the Stream (Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton)
Disc 2 Track 3: Dolly Parton Feat Richie Sambora - Lay Your Hands On Me (Bon Jovi)
Disc 2 Track 9: Millers Daughter - Head Over Heels (Tears For Fears)
Disc 2 Track 11: Ward Thomas - Man In The Mirror (Michael Jackson)

(11 Nov 2014) Zac Brown Band - Greatest Hits: So Far (Atlantic)
14 Tracks/ Time: 54:19 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Smart Choice Music - Amazon.com  
(10 Nov 2014) Rumer - Into Colour (ATLANTIC)
11 Tracks CD 

Looking for a Christmas bargain stocking filler?
First released Oct 2003 18 tracks Daniel O'Donnell: The Christmas Album CD (£2.30 NEW) CD

BLUEGRASS NEWS
Mississippi’s Volume Five (Glen Harrell on fiddle; Harry Formby Clark on mandolin; Colby Laney on guitar, Patton Wages on banjo, and Chris Williamson on bass) headed to radio on Nov 6th with the release of “Crazy Night,” the first single from their upcoming Mountain Fever Records album VOICES, scheduled to hit the streets in January 2015. Press Release

AUSSIE NEWS
Jasmine Rae >> “Why'd You Tie The Knot” (Official Music Video). From the album IF I WANT TO

NEWS

Country Aircheck's Insider Artist News

November 4, 2014: Brad & Carrie (Country Bump Kin), 48th Annual CMA Awards (And the List Goes On), Garth Brooks (Ain't Goin' Down: Album preview), Luke Bryan (Right On Target), Brad Paisley (Country Nation World Tour :Say Cheese)
November 7, 2014: 48th Annual CMA Awards (History In The Making & Quotebook); Taylor Swift (Out Of The Woods); CMT (Wonder Women)   
November 11, 2014: Garth Brooks (Garth Gets A Sign), Country artists reach out (Military Men), Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean (Please Come to Boston), Lady Antebellum (Take Me Downtown/ New Year's Rockin' Eve) Garth Brooks (ABC-TV's Good Morning America)

CMT’s Next Women of Country Rallies Behind Female Artists
It’s a somewhat sad reality that women are finding it tough to get even a morsel of radio airplay these days. But it’s certainly not for a dearth of talent. That was proven in abundance Tuesday morning (Nov. 4) at CMT’s second annual Next Women of Country showcase at City Winery in Nashville. The show a splendid array of female talent, with performances by the new class of CMT’s Next Women of Country: Mickey Guyton featured, Kelsea Ballerini, RaeLynn and the duo of Maddie & Tae.
Lee Ann Womack was the show’s special guest and co-host.
Names include: Rose Falcon, Lauren Alaina, Danielle Bradbery, Kristen Kelly, Kelsea Ballerini, Jana Kramer, Natalie Stovall, Kelleigh Bannen, Cassadee Pope and Rachel Farley, Mickey Guyton, RaeLynn, Angaleena Presley, Maddie & Tae, Lindsay Ell

BIG MACHINE artist Tim McGraw has left Red Light Management after five-and-a-half years, with plans to reunite with former longtime manager, Scott Siman, on an interim basis at least. MCGrawteamed with RED LIGHT in April of 2009 while still at Curb Records. During his time with RED LIGHT, he segued to BIG MACHINE where he’s released two albums and teamed with wife Faith Hill for a residency in Las Vegas. Siman heads RPM Management; earlier this year, he shuttered the RPM Entertainment radio promo team, shifting the company emphasis to management and publishing. Siman originally assumed management of McGraw’s career in the 90s.

AWARDS

See all our posts on 48th Annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards 2014

Reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan just racked up another impressive list of award nominations. He leads the American Country Countdown Awards nominees with seven, including Artist, Male Artist, Collaboration with Florida Georgia Line, Album and three nods for Digital Song. FGL follow with six and Jason Aldean has four.

MUSIC NEWS
Taylor Swift announced on Thurs Nov 6th that she's playing the Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball on December 7!! Get ALL of the details here The ‘Shake It Off’ superstar and Ed Sheeran join the line-up for day two at London’s O2 Arena. Taylor Swift has now been confirmed for our all-star line-up, and not only that… but she brought pop BFF Ed Sheeran along to the studio to confirm he’ll be there too! "I'm so excited! As you know I love any kind of Christmas-y type things. I've had a great time in the past and I'm really excited to come back." Taylor told them (6th November)
The Capital Jingle Bell Ball 2014 with Morrisons takes place on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th December 2014 at London's O2 Arena and is now COMPLETELY SOLD OUT! Keep it Capital in the lead-up to the #CapitalJBB and find out how YOU can win tickets - www.capitalfm.com/jingle-bell-ball

Taylor Swift is doing just fine as a pop artist – despite some doubters. Her new album 1989 sold 1,287,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. And Swift feels
vindicated. "I was told to keep my expectations low because album sales were in decline, no one had sold over a million albums this year and the last time it happened on release week was with my album RED in 2012," she says. "I was told my optimism was naive. I was told it was risky to change creative directions. I was told my album wouldn't sell if it didn't have my entire face on it. I listened to my intuition instead of all those voices. I'm so proud that my fans were able to show the world that art is important and is still valuable to them." The album scored the most sales in a week for any artist since 2002, with copies selling at the rate of one every two seconds. In these parts, that's called  a good, old-fashioned country butt-whuppin'.
Taylor has re-signed with Broadcast Music, INC (BMI) for representation of the public performances of her music catalog.
"Beyond her stellar career achievements, Taylor has a unique and extraordinary connection with her fans," said BMI Pres./CEO Mike O'Neill.
Swift will perform "Blank Space" on the American Music Awards Nov. 23 on ABC-TV.

SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS
Toby Keith announces new album ’35 MPH Town’. The singer confirmed to CMT (Oct. 13) the new record it’s his 18th record and first since DRINKS AFTER WORK, which came out a year ago.35 MPH Town will be preceded by the single “Drunk Americans,” which Keith described to CMT as what would happen if past hits “I Love This Bar” and “American Ride” “had a child,” explaining that he wanted to go retro with it.
“‘Beers Ago’ is their drunk uncle,” he added. Currently there’s no word on a release date for 35 MPH Town. “Drunk Americans” was released Oct. 14 as a single.

Texas native Breelan Angel has officially moved back to Austin, Texas from Music City. Her new single, “Pocket Change,” (indieExtreme / MisBhavin Records) co-written with Bri Bagwell was released Oct 14, 2014. It’s hitting the charts (CD Tex) with early radio airplay and is available at US iTunes and Amazon UK. Originally created with a more subtle approach, Breelan put her own spin on "Pocket Change" during the recording process. Showcasing her trademark sass to really make a statement, Breelan drives the point home with just the right blend of fiddle and guitar while keeping it fun and light enough so that listeners can dance. – via  Press Release

Cole Swindell will release the DOWN HOME SESSIONS EP Nov. 17, featuring songs he's written that didn't make it onto his 2014 self-titled debut album. Track Listing: "Ready, "The Way You're Lovin' Me Now", "Kiss", "Workin' on Me" and "Boomerang"

Brantley Gilbert has released "One Hell of an Amen" as the new single from his latest album, JUST AS I AM.

Gretchen Peters' 'BLACKBIRDS' is set to fly February 10, 2015. Press Release: Fresh off her induction into the prestigious Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Gretchen Peters has confirmed the February 10 release of her new album Blackbirds. Co-produced with Doug Lancio and Barry Walsh and recorded in Nashville, the album features a who's who of modern American roots music: Jerry Douglas, Jason Isbell, Jimmy LaFave, Will Kimbrough, Kim Richey, Suzy Bogguss and more. But it's not the guests that make 'Blackbirds' the most poignant and moving album of the GRAMMY-nominee's storied career; it’s the impeccable craftsmanship, her ability to capture the kind of complex, conflicting, and overwhelming emotional moments we might otherwise try to hide and instead shine a light of truth and understanding onto them.

The eleven tracks on Blackbirds face down death with a dark grit and delicate beauty. "During the summer of 2013 when I began writing songs for Blackbirds, there was one week when I went to three memorial services and a wedding," remembers Peters. "It dawned on me that this is the way it goes as you get older - the memorial services start coming with alarming frequency and the weddings are infrequent and thus somehow more moving."

The Henningsens’ Holiday Collection OUR FAMILY CHRISTMAS due Nov. 17. Barely November but already it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and the latest sign comes from family trio The Henningsens, who will release their first holiday album. Siblings Clara and Aaron Henningsen, along with their father, Brian, put together their versions of eight Christmas favorites. The family worked with brothers Preston and Spencer Dalton to record the project. Additionally, the 10-track album includes two Henningsen originals, Track 1 “Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, Baby Jesus” and Track 4 “Christmas Kissin’,” which features guest vocals by Jerrod Niemann. “We really wanted to make it very traditional in the songs and the melodies, but a lot of our arrangements are new, modern, cool arrangements,” said Brian Henningsen.

Craig Campbell made the cut—and landed a Garth Brooks cut. And the “Outta My Head” singer couldn’t be more pumped. During the SESAC Nashville Music Awards, held this past Sunday (Nov. 2) in Nashville, Craig noted that Garth selected one of his songs for his new album, Man Against Machine. Craig’s song for the album, “All-American Kid,” is a touching story co-written with Brice Long and Terry McBride.

Aerosmith's Steven Tyler shoots a country 'Bullet' with Jana Kramer. The Rock legend lends backup vocals to a tune on the actress-singer's upcoming album Kramer is gunning for "Bullet" to be her next single, following the upcoming album's soaring, whimsical first tune, "Love." The former One Tree Hill actress, who was the ACM's Top New Female Vocalist in 2013, is now putting the finishing touches on her second country album, due early next year.

PRESS RELEASES

  • The CMA Songwriters Series has added Country Music star Sara Evans and songwriter Brett James to the lineup, which includes previously announced performer and 2014 CMA Awards nominee, Brandy Clark.
  • MTS Management Group would like to congratulate Hicks on becoming the first Swedish country artist to reach the Music Row Country Breakout Chart's Top 80 published chart. Hick's single, "Hayride" (MTS Records) climbs 6 spots this week, coming in at #80. The track, co-written by Hicks and Lasse Andersson, comes in ahead of releases by Jana Kramer, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Ricky Skaggs with Sharon White.
  • Dolly Parton has been nominated for a People’s Choice award in the Favorite Female Country Artist category.
  • Portland, Tennessee, native Ronnie McDowell set to take music to the masses
  • Chris Young to make “Late Show With David Letterman” debut Friday, November 14 at 11:35pm eastern/10:35pm central on CBS. The performance will mark not only Young’s first time playing the esteemed show, but also the national TV debut of the song.
  • NRA Country taps The Swon Brothers as featured artist for November . Note: The National Rifle Association (NRA) is a formidable opponent, however, when it comes to grass-roots organizing. It has more than 4 million members who feel passionately about gun rights. Nearly 90 percent of NRA members oppose the  banning semi-automatic weapons.
  • James McMurtry releases COMPLICATED GAME, his first studio album in six years. The celebrated tunesmith's highly anticipated record, due February 24, 2015.
  • Larry's Country Diner promises a warm and nostalgic November, featuring performances from Jean Shepard, Gene Watson, Johnny Rodriguez, Jamie O'Neal and Tim Menzies.
  • Two new titles from Rural Rhythm's "Heritage Collection" series by Dale Potter & Buck Ryan
  • Vince Gill receives CMA’s Irving Waugh Award of Excellence during The 48th Annual CMA Awards On ABC.
  • "Waiting on June" video premiere from Holly Williams, the bittersweet true story of her maternal grandparent's 60+ year love affair. Watch it on YouTube
ARTICLES

Beverly Keel, for The Tennessean : Country radio needs to show female artists some respect

REVIEWS
David Shelby – Oh Yeah (album review by Preshias)
David Shelby announces sophomore recording project Oh Yeah - Digital Rodeo

INTERVIEWS
knue.com Ray Scott Is Bringing Back Traditional Country Music With New Album…….Country fans who complain that traditional country music is dead evidently haven’t heard the music of Ray Scott. The singer-songwriter made quite a stir with his third album, ‘Rayality,’ which he released independently in 2012. Using alternative marketing methods that focused on the internet and satellite radio, Scott ended up selling several hundred thoudsand units — a feat practically unheard of in the current industry climate, where even many major label releases are consistently under-performing. Scott released a new self-titled album on Oct. 7, produced once again by Dave Brainard, whose credits also include Jamey Johnson, Brandy Clark and more. The men have partnered for a new label, deciBel Nashville, to release and promote the project, which features a wide mix of songs that are sure to please not only fans of traditional country, but fans of well-written songs from a unique perspective.

MAGAZINES
Country Weekly November 3, 2014 – Lady Antebellum Is Flying High....Lady Antebellum is flying high with the release of their new album, 747. The trio of Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood talks about the album and their recently-launched charity initiative, 7FOR7, in this exclusive cover story. “This album is definitely our most in-your-face. It’s the biggest-sounding record we’ve ever had,” says Charles. Hillary explains the title, noting that, “We wanted it to come at you with a lot of force and energy like a 747 jet.” - Large Cover - Lady A P44-45 "Coming In Hot" - Table of Contents [PDF]

Darius Rucker Holiday Homecoming (Feature in Nash Magazine) - 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
The Shires – The Green Note EP (Live) - 5 Tracks released Nov 4, 2014

David Shelby - OH YEAH (EP) - 6 tracks released Nov 4, 2014
Doobie Brothers - Southbound - 13 tracks, out Nov 4, 2014
Maddie & Tae - debut EP - 4 tracks out Nov 4, 2014

Billboard.com Sharing is caring, unless you're talking about Spotify. The streaming music giant has announced a new subscription that makes it easier for the whole family to get their own dang customized account under one bill. "Spotify Family" allows any premium subscriber to add up to four family members to an account at 50% off, which would amount to $29.99/ month for a clan of five.
Spotify says each family member will have premium accounts, with separate listening histories, recommendations and playlists. Up until now, the service has maintained a one subscriber/one account plan. The family model has become a standard for mobile phone carriers.

And Spotify can't shake it off: This Is Why Taylor Swift’s Album Isn’t on Spotify
Taylor Swift on How to Save the Music Industry: Treat It Like a Love Affair
Time.com Taylor Swift has decided to remove her music from Spotify, the company
announced in a pleading blog post Monday. The only song of hers remaining on the service is ‘Safe & Sound,’ from The Hunger Games soundtrack. “We hope she’ll change her mind and join us in building a new music economy that works for everyone,” Spotify posted, noting that 16 million of its users have played Taylor Swift music in the last 30 days and that she appears on 19 million playlists. Swift refused to allow her 2012 album, RED, on Spotify when it first debuted, but it later appeared for Spotify users to enjoy. Her most recent release,
1989, never appeared on Spotify. The artist has also been vocal about her thoughts on music sharing.

“Piracy, file sharing and streaming have shrunk the numbers of paid album sales drastically, and every artist has handled this blow differently,” Swift wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed earlier this year. “It’s my opinion that music should not be free, and my prediction is that individual artists and their labels will someday decide what an album’s price point is. I hope they don’t underestimate themselves or undervalue their art. Spotify even created a playlist in honor of the absent superstar, called “What to Play While Taylor’s Away.” It includes artists like Katy Perry, Leagues, Ed Sheeran, and One Direction — which is awkward for Taylor’s ex, One Direction’s Harry Styles.
The post ended on a note of desperation, “P.S. Taylor, we were both young when we first saw you, but now there’s more than 40 million of us who want you to stay, stay, stay. It’s a love story, baby, just say, Yes.”

BIG MACHINE Pres./CEO Scott Borchetta has long been a vocal critic of streaming services such as SPOTIFY, saying on more than one occasion, to different publications – including the New York Times -- the streaming business model is, “A race to the bottom.”
Scott Borchetta Tells Nikki Sixx: Pulling Taylor Swift From Spotify Is About Creating And Sustaining Value For Artists
November 10, 2014 at 3:37 AM (PT)
Sixx Talks Swift With Borchetta
Tongues have been wagging since the news last week (NET NEWS 11/3) that on the same day TAYLOR SWIFT announced plans for a world tour in support of her new “1989” album and hours before expected record-setting sales figures for her latest project were due, BIG MACHINE RECORDS instructed SPOTIFY to remove her entire catalog from its subscription streaming service. BIG MACHINE Pres./CEO SCOTT BORCHETTA has long been a vocal critic of streaming services such as SPOTIFY, saying on more than one occasion, to different publications -- the streaming business model is, “A race to the bottom.”
This weekend on the syndicated SIXX SENSE WITH NIKKI SIXX, NIKKI SIXX and co-host JENN MARINO welcomed BORCHETTA, who spoke candidly about the headline-making decision to pull SWIFT’s music catalogue from SPOTIFY, the reasoning behind it, and why it’s important to the future of the music industry.
BORCHETTA: “Yes, for all of TAYLOR’s records in the streaming era, if you will, we have never put them on any free streaming services for the first 90 to 120 days. And the reason being is we never wanted to embarrass a fan. What I mean by that is, if this fan went and purchased the record, CD, iTUNES, wherever, and then their friends go, ‘why did you pay for it?  It’s free on SPOTIFY,’ we’re being completely disrespectful to that super-fan who wants to invest, who believes in their favorite artist ...

WATCH
For the second time in a couple of months, Garth Brooks fell onstage at a gig over the weekend. The country superstar was performing in Lexington, Ky. on Friday (Oct. 31) when he lost control of his feet. Brooks’ stage features a moving sidewalk-type
area and during his cover of Aerosmith‘s ‘The Fever,’ he stepped onto it and lost control >> YouTube = #Keepitcountry #keepitsimple

Carrie Underwood fans who tuned into Entertainment Tonight  to get a >> sneak peek at the singer’s music video for her current hit “Something in the Water.” The video features 16 choir members, 12 dancers, three costume changes and a custom-built tank of recycled water. Director Raj Kapoor teamed up with So You Think You Can Dance choreographer Travis Wall on the shoot. Carrie says of the video, “We took it in a direction that was probably not what most people would think. We just made it joyful and happy and uplifting.” The full video was posted on Carrie's Twitter Page on Weds Nov 5th
Florida Georgia Line channeled the hit '90s movie Office Space for the first few moments of their fun-filled new video, "Sun Daze."

Sarah McQuaid >> "The Silver Lining" from the album "Walking Into White" (ARTWORK - Waterbug Records, 2015), now available for pre-order from sarahmcquaid.bandcamp

BIRTHDAYS
November 10: Dave Loggins (1947) Donna Fargo (1945), Chris Cagle (1968), Miranda Lambert (1983)
November 11: Narvel Felts (1938)
November 12: Barbara Fairchild (1950)   
November 13: Raymond Froggatt (1941)
November 14: Gretchen Peters (1962)
November 15: Hank Wangford (1940), Sara Johns (1970) 
November 16: Troy Seals (1938)


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