Tuesday, 23 January 2018

Country Bites News snippets December 4, 2017 – December 10, 2017

UK & Irish News, UK Chart News, Album Releases, Canadian News, Country News, Music News,  Birthdays, Links to Reviews.

SOURCES / LINKS shown

For the latest Billboard Country Charts Blog Post go HERE

UK & IRISH News
For a full listing of 2017/ 2018 UK Tour dates PLEASE check out our Tour Dates Page

On the BBC Radio 2 Playlist for the week commencing Saturday 9th December 2017
A Playlist:
Gwen Stefani - Like Christmas feat. Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift - Gorgeous
B Playlist:
Andy Brown - Landslide (feat. Crissie Rhodes)
Shania Twain - Who's Gonna Be Your Girl added to the "B" Playlist
C Playlist:
Maren Morris - 80s Mercedes
OUT:
Andy Brown - Landslide (feat. Crissie Rhodes) removed from the B Playlist

(4 Dec 2017) Puzzle Maker's very own Danny McMahon and Puzzle Maker artist Becky Lawrence have recently released their debut Country/Pop EPs. These releases continue to strengthen Puzzle Maker Studios' catalogue of UK Country Music, which is something producers Danny and Andrea have set out to do from the very beginning.
Both EPs have been apparently been received very well by UK and International radio and the modern country pop sound captivated audiences at the launch shows - all in all a great success. Listen to their music at www.puzzlemakerstudios.co.uk
About Puzzle Maker Studios: A Music Production Company based in Bristol (UK; Freestone Road, BS2 0QN Bristol | Facebook) specialising in Artist Development, Studio Recording, Music Production and Commercial Songwriting.

(10 Dec 2017) Danny McMahon posted: After just 4 months, I have been given the unprecedented opportunity to play at Springboard West festival in California. Being from the UK, it is always a huge goal to get to play in America live and I am incredibly humbled and thrilled to be given this opportunity. This festival is run by Barry Coffing who has connections with Universal, and other huge artist labels, etc. In order to allow my band and myself to attend, we need to raise over £4,000 to ensure his band can join him on this incredible journey.
He launched a crowd funded Kickstarter : £60.00 pledged of £4,000 goal 2 backers; 30 days to go.
UPDATE: £125 pledged of £4,000 goal by 6 backers. Funding for this project was canceled by the project creator on December 27.


Danny shared: We’ve had lots of donations from lots of different people who have been generous enough to support our cause. From hours of busking, to fans to friends. The main thing is we get to represent UK Country at Springboard Festival!
Danny McMahon is a commercial singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and director of Puzzle Maker Studios in Bristol, UK

UK CHART NEWS

Official UK Top 100 Singles Chart (Week Ending 14 December 2017)
8 December 2017 - 14 December 2017
Watford quartet Rak-Su dominated the 14th series of The X Factor, which drew to a close Sunday (December 3), romping to victory in the final. Their coronation single, Dimelo, was released later that evening, giving it a little over four days to accumulate enough sales to top the chart but it ends up well short, with an opening tally of 45,288, including 8,774 from streams, earning it a No.2 debut, leaving Ed Sheeran to claim pole position with Perfect (89,359 sales: 43,899 pure sales + 45,460 streaming points).

Nine of the first 11 X Factor coronation singles debuted at number one with the other two – Steve Brookstein's Against All Odds (2004) and Joe McElderry's The Climb (2009; 450,838 sales) – debuting at No.2, and climbing to No.1 the following week. Louisa Johnson's Forever Young debuted and peaked at No.9 in 2015 (39,196 sales) while 2016 champion Matt Terry's coronation single, When Christmas Comes Around, debuted and peaked at No.3 (45,827).
An appearance on The X Factor finals weekend did little for One Direction star Louis Tomlinson's latest single, Miss You, which opened at No.39 (9,518 sales) and even less for Simon Cowell's new boy band PrettyMuch, whose introductory single, No More (feat. French Montana) opened at No.77 (5,311 sales). X Factor 2016 champion Matt Terry's Sucker For You slid 51-71 (5,761 sales), while his debut album, Trouble, which debuted at No.29 last week, slumped to No.91 (2,317 sales).

The full list of X FACTOR coronation singles, and their first week stats are as follows:
WEEK  YEAR   DEBUT POS.  TITLE ARTIST  FIRST WEEK SALES
52 2004 2 Against All Odds Steve Brookstein 127,372
51 2005 1 That's My Goal Shayne Ward 742,180
51 2006 1 A Moment Like This Leona Lewis 571,253
51 2007 1 When You Believe Leon Jackson 275,742
51 2008 1 Hallelujah Alexandra Burke 576,046
51 2009 2 The Climb Joe McElderry 450,838
50 2010 1 When We Collide Matt Cardle 439,007
50 2011 1 Cannonball Little Mix 210,129
50 2012 1 Impossible James Arthur 489,560
51 2013 1 Skyscraper Sam Bailey 148,853
51 2014 1 Something I Need Ben Haenow 214,239
51 2015 9 Forever Young Louisa Johnson 39,196
50 2016 3 When Christmas Comes Around  Matt Terry 45,827
49 2017 2 Dimelo Rak-Su feat. Wyclef Jean/Naughty Boy 45,288


Official UK Top 100 Albums Chart (Week Ending 14 December 2017)
8 December 2017 - 14 December 2017
Leadership of the album chart changes hands for the 15th week in a row – but instead of heralding U2's 11th No.1 album with Songs Of Experience (40,669 sales), as most would have expected, instead the chart welcomed back Sam Smith's The Thrill Of It All, which debuted in pole position four weeks ago, and returned to the summit with sales up 35.00% week-on-week at 58,299 (including 4,974 from sales-equivalent streams).
Five weeks into its chart career, The Thrill Of It All has never been out of the top two, and has sold 290,292 copies – enough for it to already rank as the year's sixth biggest-selling artist album.

Chris Stapleton with FROM A ROOM - VOL 2 (Mercury Nashville) made a debut at No.89 selling an estimated 2,400 copies

The UK's best-selling Christmas albums of the century
When it comes to Christmas album sales, the star at the very top of the tree is twinkly-eyed crooner Michael Bublé. His seasonal set – entitled CHRISTMAS, just so there was no room for doubt – is the ONLY Christmas Number 1 Album in chart history with the word "Christmas" in the title. It spent three non-consecutive weeks at the top on its release in 2011, and has returned to the Top 10 every year since!
Christmas has sold a whopping 2.6 million in the UK according to Official Charts Company data, has spent almost six months in the Top 10 in total over the last five years and is the UK's 21st biggest selling album since 2000….Read More

Official UK Country Album Top 20 (Week Ending 14 December 2017)
8 December 2017 - 14 December 2017
Chris Stapleton with FROM A ROOM - VOL 2 made a debut at No.1
Shane Richie with A COUNTRY SOUL fell 1-2 (4 weeks; #1 peak)
Glen Campbell with ADIOS held at #3 (26 weeks; #1 peak)
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill with THE REST OF OUR LIFE fell 2-4 (3 weeks; #2 peak)
Lady Antebellum with HEART BREAK held at #5 (26 weeks; #2 peak)
Margo Price with ALL AMERICAN MADE fell 4-6 (7 weeks; #1 peak)
Chris Stapleton with FROM A ROOM -Vol 1 climbed 8-7 (31 weeks; #1 peak)
Brothers Osborne with PAWN SHOP fell 7-8 (27 weeks; #5 peak)
Kelsea Ballerini with UNAPOLOGETICALLY fell 6-9 (5 weeks; #2 peak)
Philippa Hanna with COME BACK FIGHTING rose 11-10 (2 weeks; #10 peak)
Outside the Top 10
Cadillac Three with LEGACY fell 9-11 (15 weeks; #2 peak)
Lucinda Williams with THIS SWEET OLD WORLD fell 10-12 (7 weeks; #2 peak)
Darius Rucker with WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME fell 12-15 (7 weeks; #4 peak)

Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40 (Week Ending 14 December 2017)
8 December 2017 - 14 December 2017
This Week/ Last Week/ Title/ Artist
1 NEW The Visitor Neil Young/ Promise Of The Real [Tagged Rock] #65 Official Album Chart
NEW 2 From A Room - Vol 2 Chris Stapleton #89 Official Album Chart
3 2 Carry Fire Robert Plant
4 3 A Deeper Understanding War On Drugs [Tagged Alt]
5 4 Roll With The Punches Van Morrison [Tagged Blues]
7 1 Songbook Frank Turner [Tagged Alt]
8 7 Adios Glen Campbell [Tagged Country]
9 6 Life Love Flesh Blood Imelda May [Tagged Singer/Songwriter]
10 14 Pure Comedy Father John Misty
Outside The Top 10
11 9 Hitchhiker Neil Young [Tagged Rock]
12 8 Crack-up Fleet Foxes [Tagged Alt]
5 6 Lotta Sea Lice Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile [Tagged Alternative]

UK Country iTunes Chart December 10, 2017 15:00
Albums
1. Luke Bryan - What Makes You Country (#103 overall UK Albums chart) | Debut Fri 1 Dec: #8 UK Country iTunes Chart (#19 overall UK Album chart)
2. Chris Stapleton - From A Room, Vol. 2 (#199 overall UK Albums chart)
3. Various Artists - The Country Album (#364 overall UK Albums chart)
4. Chris Stapleton - From A Room, Vol. 1 (#451 overall UK Albums chart)
5. Lady Antebellum - Need You Now (#498 overall UK Albums chart) 
6. Various Artists - Country - 101 All Time Greats (#526 overall UK Albums chart)
7. Chris Stapleton - Traveller (#545 overall UK Albums chart)
8. Shania Twain - Greatest Hits (#567 overall UK Albums chart)
9. Tim McGraw & Faith Hill - The Rest of Our Life (#589 overall UK Albums chart)
10. Luke Combs - This One's For You (#593 overall UK Albums chart) 
Outside the Top 10
15. The Shires - My Universe (#852 overall UK Albums chart) 
16. Ward Thomas - Cartwheels (#869 overall UK Albums chart) 
19. Laura Oakes - Nashville Stole Your Girl (EP) (#1113 overall UK Albums chart); re-entry #8 (#374 overall) Bob Harris Country BBC Radio 2 A British country special, with a live session from Laura Oakes

UK Country iTunes Chart December 10, 2017 15:00
Songs
1. Lady Antebellum - Need You Now (#205 overall UK Singles chart)
2. Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers - Islands In The Stream (#540 overall UK Singles chart)
3. Johnny Cash - Hurt (#593 overall UK Singles chart)
4. John Denver - Take Me Home, Country Roads (# overall UK Singles chart)
5. Dolly Parton - Jolene (#692 overall UK Singles chart)
6. Dolly Parton - 9 To 5 (#852 overall UK Singles chart)
7. Lady Antebellum - Need You Now (#1050 overall UK Singles chart) From NOW That's What I Call Country
8. Chris Stapleton - Tennessee Whiskey (#1153 overall UK Singles chart)
9. Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman (#1328 overall UK Singles chart)
10. John Denver - Annie's Song (#697 overall UK Singles chart)
Outside The Top 10
24. Jade Helliwell - By My Side (outside top 1500 UK Singles chart)
38. Hannah White - In It For Love
Debuts Dec 8, 2017:
Jade Helliwell - By My Side #6 UK Country iTunes Chart (#422 overall UK Album chart), then #3 (#255 overall UK Album chart), then #2 peak (#225 overall)
Catherine McGrath - All I Want For Christmas Is You #72 UK Country iTunes Chart, then #50

UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES

(4 Dec 2017) Chandler Roberts - Southern Life (EP)
5 Tracks/ Time: 17:57 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 8 Dec: #7 US Country iTunes Chart

(Dec 2017) Jim Brickman - A Joyful Christmas CD/DVD + Snowman Sweater
Pledge Music (£64/ $85)
A copy of A Joyful Christmas on CD/DVD -Set a joyful holiday mood with this CD/DVD combination from Jim Brickman, featuring uplifting hymns, Christmas classics featuring some exciting vocal duets! (This disc is compatible with NTSC players) The exclusive Brickman Snowman Sweater Includes digital download

(8 Dec 2017) Walker Hayes - boom. (Monument/Arista)
10 Tracks/ Time: 31:05 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 8 Dec: #4 UK Country iTunes Chart (#165 overall UK Album chart)
Hayes wrote or co-wrote each of the 10 songs on the full-length studio album, which was produced by Shane McAnally, and named for his favorite word. “It’s what I text my team every time another station adds ‘You Broke Up With Me,’” he says of the now-gold first single.)

(8 Dec 2017) Luke Bryan - What Makes You Country (Capitol Records Nashville/ UMG Recordings, Inc.)
15 Tracks/ Time: 51:32 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 1 Dec: #8 UK Country iTunes Chart (#19 overall UK Album chart)
Produced by Jeff Stevens and Jody Stevens, Bryan’s sixth studio album is his first since 2015’s Kill the Lights and featuring seven songs he co-wrote, including the title track and his current single, “Light It Up.” Other writers on the 15-song set are Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley, Brad Tursi, Zach Crowell and the Warren Brothers.




(8 Dec 2017) Uncle Si - Uncle Si & the Sicotics (EP; 2017 Cold River Records)
6 Tracks/ Time: 20:15 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 8 Dec: #58 US Country iTunes Chart

(8 Dec 2017) Gene Watson - My Gospel Roots (2017 Fourteen Carat Music)
13 Tracks/ Time: 45:34 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 8 Dec: #63 US Country iTunes Chart
Gene Watson continues to stay true to his traditional country style with the release of his new record with New Day Christian Distribution.
“New Day Christian has a storied legacy of distributing quality Christian products,” said Dottie Leonard Miller, President New Day Christian. “We’re excited to add Gene Watson to that list. Gene’s voice is synonymous with Country music, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with him as he returns to his ‘roots.’”
Fans got a taste of what to expect from Watson’s new record with the release of his “Help Me” rendition on his 2016 album, Real.Country.Music. Originally penned by Larry Gatlin and recorded by Elvis Presley, “Help Me,” captivated audiences and rose to No. 1 in Christian Servant Magazine, Christian Voice Magazine and on Cashbox. My Gospel Roots includes “Help Me,” but also features Watson’s own renditions of many other classic Christian songs.
Watson includes songs from all different generations on his new record, and proves that he hasn't lost a note in his incredible multi-octave range. One particular stand-out is “Old Roman Soldier, the first single releasing to Christian radio stations.

(8 Dec 2017) Brett Kissel - We Were That Song (2017 BAK 2 BAK Entertainment Inc.) CAN
13 Tracks/ Time: 45:19
 Multi award-winning Canadian country music artist and CCMA Awards’ reigning Male Artist of the Year, Brett Kissel is garnering stateside popularity with the release of his current single, “We Were That Song,” which is now airing on SiriusXM’s, The Highway (Ch. 56) and placed on Spotify playlists, including “PlayStation Music,” “New Boots,” “The Sound of Canada” and “Ride and Play.” The video for the single is gaining exposure on GAC and The Country Network. View the video here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CN_BrGW5bU
Signed to Warner Music Canada, Kissel is one of the top touring acts on the Canadian Country music scene. Most recently, the young entertainer opened for Garth Brooks on 16 dates and he is getting ready to head out on a 3-month, 50+ dates, As a thank you to the US-based fans that have been supporting him, Kissel was slated to play a CD release concert at the Basement in Nashville on Dec. 14th.
Brett Kissel is the youngest artist ever to be nominated for a CCMA Award and has won 10 CCMAs to date, including Fans’ Choice Entertainer and Male Artist of the Year.
nd a duet with country music icon, Charley Pride, on the track “Burgers and Fries.” The album’s title track, “We Were That Song,” is Kissel’s tenth single to reach the top 10 at Canadian country radio.
Kissel teamed up with Grammy-Award winning producer, Luke Wooten, who has also produced for Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Chris Stapleton and long-time collaborator and CCMA Award Winner, Bart McKay as well as his bandmates - Justin Kudding, Spencer Cheyne, and Matty McKay. Kissel is co-managed by Invictus Entertainment and Major Bob.
For more information on Brett Kissel visit www.brettkissel.com


(8 Dec 2017) Elana Jane - Sing Along - EP (Elana Jane Enterprises, Inc.)
4 Tracks/ Time: 12:04 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Sat 9 Dec: #36 US Country iTunes Chart

(8 Dec 2017) Catherine McGrath - All I Want For Christmas Is You (Single; Warner Bros.) CHRIS / UK
Time: 2:53 Amazon UK - UK iTunes
Originally released November 1, 1994 writers: Mariah Carey Walter Afanasieff
Debut Fri 1 Dec: #72 UK Country iTunes Chart (# overall UK Album chart), then #50

(8 Dec 2017) Jade Helliwell - By My Side (Single; 2017 Jade Helliwell, distributed by Spinnup) UK
Time: 3:27 Amazon UK - UK iTunes
Debut Fri 1 Dec: #6 UK Country iTunes Chart (#422 overall UK Album chart), then #3 (#255 overall UK Album chart), then #2 (#225), Sat 9 Dec: #7 UK Country iTunes Chart (#688 overall UK Album chart), #8 (#861), Sun 10 Dec: #12 (#1262 overall) then #19 (off top 1500), Mon 11 Dec: #29

(8 Dec 2017) Sonia Leigh - We Know (Single; 2017 WILLING TO FLY MUSIC) CHRIS
Time: 2:53 Pop/ Holiday Amazon UK - UK iTunes

CANADIAN NEWS
(7 Dec 2017) Single Heather Rankin "Wrap It Up"



Growing up in a large family, in the close knit community of Mabou on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island, Christmas for Heather Rankin was a joyous, fun filled affair with good food, lots of music and the warmth of family and friends. While the meaning of Christmas and the ways of celebrating it have changed over the years, those essential ideas of togetherness, peace and remembrance have remained. And they are the emotional impetus behind IMAGINE (Folk; iTunes; Back Street Music Ltd), Heather Rankin's first 10 track Christmas album released 1 Dec. 2017.

NEWS
(4 Dec 2017) George Strait Named 'Texan Of The Year'
MCA Nashville's George Strait has been named the 2018 TEXAN OF THE YEAR by the Texas Legislative Conference, a nonpartisan organization of TEXAS business and political leaders. Strait will be officially recognized on Thursday, March 22nd, 2018 at the NEW BRAUNFELS, TX Convention Center.
"No one has done more than George Strait to raise awareness and funds for the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts," said Conference Chairman DOUG MILLER. "He put his well-earned reputation on the line and asked not only his fellow Texans to step up, but all Americans. To date, STRAIT's efforts on behalf of HURRICANE HARVEY victims have raised over $50 million."

(4 Dec 2017) Lauren Alaina, Luke Combs, Midland, Carly Pearce, and Michael Ray have been selected to perform at the 2018 "New Faces Of Country Music Show," which will close out Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2018 on Wednesday, FEBRUARY 7th, 2018. The show is co-sponsored by the Academy Of Country Music (ACM) and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and is powered by LIVE NATION.
The lineup for the annual showcase of rising Country talent was chosen via a voting process which included qualifying radio station personnel. CRS 2018 will take place Monday, February 5th, 2018 through Wednesday, February 7th at NASHVILLE's OMNI HOTEL. - www.countryradioseminar.com

(5 Dec 2017) Silverado Records Joins Adkins Publicity
Silverado Records has joined ADKINS PUBLICITY for exclusive PR/publicity representation. The label’s roster of talent includes Country acts Joe Diffie, Adam Byrnes, Crystal Yates, Tyler Jordan, and Ali Morgan.
"I’m extremely excited to be working with Scott [ADKINS] and his team at ADKINS PUBLICITY, as I believe they totally appreciate and understand our non-traditional approach to growing our company, and have the passion to help us usher in our best year yet," shared SILVERADO RECORDS President/CEO Scott Thomas.

(8 Dec 2017) Sugarland have been announced as VERY special guests to join C2C2018. They are added to the Country to Country 2018 Saturday March 10th 2018 line up at The O2 Arena.

This will be the multi CMA Award and Grammy Award winner's first full-band live performance together in 5 years and their first UK set since 2009.
Friends of C2C, Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush have sold in excess of 15 million records worldwide and have had incredible solo careers since their hiatus in 2012. Known for such hits as "Stuck Like Glue", "Baby Girl," "Stay" and "All I Want to Do", Sugarland's last album was 2010's THE INCREDIBLE MACHINE.

Following their appearance together on "The 51st Annual CMA Awards" and confirmation of a reunion (Nov 17), Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush will release new music in a joint venture between BIG MACHINE RECORDS and UMG NASHVILLE. SUGARLAND's single, "Still The Same," worldwide via all digital partners on Thurs, December 21st.
"We are thrilled for fans to hear our new music, especially this single," said Nettles. "The title of the song is so meaningful to us as we want fans to know, we are still the same, we are still the same SUGARLAND they've known and loved." added Bush, "We want to finish where we left off. We always knew [we] were going to make music again, so this has been the best of both worlds. We were able to take time to feed our personal passions, and we're excited to come back together to create music as a band again." Sugarland is also back in the studio working on their new album and mapping out tour dates for 2018.

(9 Dec 2017) Jana Kramer Reveals She's Suffered a Miscarriage: Jana Kramer turned to Instagram on Saturday to share some devastating news.

MUSIC NEWS
(5 Dec 2017) Billboard - The Grammys may have dissed Ed Sheeran, but Spotify says he is the most streamed artist of the year.The streaming service announced Tuesday that Sheeran tops its 2017 list with 6.3 billion streams. He also has Spotify’s biggest album of the year with DIVIDE, streamed 3.1 billion times, and the top song with “Shape of You,” logging 1.4 billion streams. Sheeran received two Grammy nominations last week, but was shut out of the major categories, including album, song and record of the year.

PRESS RELEASES
(8 Dec 2017) WHEELHOUSE RECORDS’ WALKER MCGUIRE READIES DEBUT EP, OUT JANUARY 12TH
Following their first UK appearance as the standout act of Country Music Week in London earlier this year, hot newcomers Walker McGuire (composed of Jordan Walker and Johnny McGuire) announced today that their self-titled debut EP will be available on January 12th via Wheelhouse Records (BBR/BMG). Additionally, today (8th Dec), the duo’s addictive new single “Lost” (>> Video) is available immediately at all digital platforms and streaming services. Currently on its way to Country radio, the soaring, up-tempo new song will officially impact airwaves on January 16th. 

REVIEWS
(7 Dec 2017) Megan McKenna takes to the stage as she puts on another energetic performance in heavily chained minidress at London's Scala club Read more: Daily Mail.co.uk
She's on her own mini tour, and of course she's got some statement stage outfits, our favourite of which was this fringe embellished mini dress. It's by Rocky Star and it's pretty much got Christmas party season written all over it, right? It's perfect for throwing some shapes on the dancefloor! - www.vogue.co.uk

BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays in the week ahead
December 11: the late Kenny Johnson (1939; died 13 Oct 2015; musician & BBC Radio Merseyside presenter), Brenda Lee (1944)
December 12: Daniel O'Donnell (1961), Hank Williams III (1972), Katrina Elam (1983)
December 13: Randy Owens (Alabama) (1949), John Anderson (1954), Taylor Swift (1989)
December 14: Charlie Rich - (1934), Matt Rollings (1964), Maisy Stella (Nashville TV actress),
December 15: the late A P Carter (1891; The Carter Family died Nov 7, 1960 (aged 68)
December 16: Frankie Ballard (1982)
December 17: Sharon White (Whites) (1953), 

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