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Wednesday, 24 January 2018

Country Bites News snippets January 1, 2018 – January 7, 2018

Country Bites News snippets January 1, 2018 – January 7, 2018

UK & Irish News, UK Chart News, Album Releases, Country News (Awards, TV, Babies), Music News, Country Fashion, Gossip, Birthdays, Links to Articles, Reviews, & Videos.

SOURCES / LINKS shown

For the latest Billboard Country Charts Blog Post go HERE

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

On the BBC Radio 2 Playlist for the week commencing Saturday 6th January 2018
B Playlist:
First Aid Kit - Fireworks added to the "B" Playlist
Catherine McGrath - Talk Of This Town added to the "B" Playlist
OUT
Gwen Stefani - Like Christmas feat. Blake Shelton removed from the "A" Playlist

Shania Twain - Who's Gonna Be Your Girl removed from the "B" Playlist

(2 Jan 2018) Hotdisc CEO Stuart Cameron meets with British country music singer-songwriter Chloe Chadwick. Watch the interview on Vimeo
Her forthcoming gigs are:
January 19th - Midwinter Sessions Weekender @ Stone House Hotel, Hawes, North Yorkshire
February 16th - Sage 2, Gateshead support for Jess & The Bandits

(2 Jan 2018) The British Country Music Association are proud to announce that they have been nominated in the Entertainment Production Awards 2018 (28 February 2018, Novotel London West).
They share "We have been nominated in the Music Event of the Year catagory which is an absolute honor considering the other nominations in the category". See www.eventproductionawards.com
Music Event of the Year.
British Country Music Awards
Adele Concerts at Wembley Stadium by Creative Technology
Isle of Wight Festival

(4 Jan 2018) Batley country singer and 2017 British Country Music Association Female Vocalist Jade Helliwell is releasing a new EP in 2018 and she has so many offers to share! she has launched a Pledge Music crowd fund Campaign for fans to get involved with the next stage in her country journey.  (Update Jan 23: So far 54 pledgers have raised 72% of unknown goal with 28 days left).

(5 Jan 2018) After spending four months of 2017 in Nashville and most of the summer in the studio recording new music, singer-songwriter Vic Allen is set to release her latest EP BETWEEN THE LINES this year. A follow up to her 2016 debut EP “The Missing Piece”, which received strong praise from BBC Introducing and landed her slots at several UK festivals including Buckle and Boots, “Between The Lines” consists of four original tracks with a definite Nashville influence.

(7 Jan 2018) Little Big Town named UKCountryRadio.com's Greatest Group.
The four-piece band Little Big Town comprising Karen Fairchild, Kimberley Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook and Philip Sweet topped our top 30 country music groups of all time, as chosen by our listeners and Newsletter readers who have been sending in their suggestions since May. It's another accolade for the band in a year which has also seen them win the CMA and Academy of Country Music Vocal Group Of The Year Awards.
Alabama came second in the poll. They are the most successful band in country music history in terms of chart success, having sold over 75 million records and had more than 30 number one hits.
In third place came Lonestar. The band were very popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s when they notched up nine number one singles, including the huge crossover hit "Amazed".
Lady Antebellum came fourth ahead of the Zac Brown Band in fifth. The top ten was completed by Rascal Flatts, Dixie Chicks, Eagles, The Statler Brothers and The Oak Ridge Boys. 
Click here to see the Top 30 Greatest Groups as voted by UKCountryRadio.com's listeners throughout 2017.

(7 Jan 2018) Fundraising continuing for The UK Country Music Awards





UKCountryRadio.com will have news in next month's Newsletter about their launch of this year's UK Country Music Awards, presented by UKCountryRadio.com to celebrate the best in UK Country Music.
They are now seeking crowd fundraising, around £3,000, for the Awards. Ways in which you can contribute HERE.

(7 Jan 2018) UKCountryRadio.com this month welcome Roger Peck to the station. Roger has been a country music fan for over 40 years and has a wide range of tastes - from classic country to the modern country of today. Roger will present a new monthly show, "Roger Peck's World Of Americana" on the third Tuesday of each month at 8pm. The show will be repeated the next day, Wednesday, at 4pm. It will feature Americana music from both the US and UK, and a look at each country's Americana charts. The first show airs on Tuesday 16th January. BLOG: Radio Waves: Radio Presenter Spotlight - Roger Peck

(7 Jan 2018) Introducing Hayley Mack: Hayley is from Blackpool and has been singing country music for most of her life in the music venues and clubs of her home town. Haley's debut country music album is expected to be released later this year. It will include her debut single "Falling" (iTunes), written by Chris Nieto who is the lead singer of the Brighton-based country rock band The Diablos. More info at www.ukcountryradio.com

UK CHART NEWS
Official UK Top 100 Singles Chart (Week Ending 11 January 2018)
05 January 2018 - 11 January 2018
34 songs dropped out of the Top 75 this chart week (all but two of them Christmas-related). Ed Sheeran's PERFECT spent" its fifth week at No.1.
Combining paid-for sales (20,362) and sales-equivalent streams (36,673) of Sheeran's original album version and duet versions with Beyoncé and Andrea Bocelli, Perfect had a combined tally of 57,035 sales in the week, the smallest of its reign.
Perfect may be nearing the end of its run – but if it is, Sheeran is in the hunt to replace himself at the summit for the first time in his career, with a little help from Eminem, as the latter's River, on which Sheeran is guest vocalist, rebounded 3-2 (40,350 sales).
The departure not just from the Top 10 but from the entire singles chart of festive favourites Last Christmas by Wham!, All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey, Fairytale Of New York by The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl, Do They Know It's Christmas? by Band Aid, Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee and Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin' Stevens – at No.2, No.4, No.5, No.7, No.9 and No.10 a week ago, respectively – created space for five other songs to resume their Top 10 residencies, and one to make its maiden appearance.

Official UK Top 100 Albums Chart (Week Ending 11 January 2018)
05 January 2018 - 11 January 2018
Ed Sheeran remained in control of both the singles and albums chart this week, with Perfect spending its fifth consecutive week atop the singles chart and ÷ continuing atop the album chart, ending a run of 18 straight weeks in which leadership of the latter list has changed hands. Aside from ÷ , you have to go all the way back to last February and Rag'N'Bone Man's Human to find an album that has managed to remain at No.1 for more than a week at a time.
Although it is only ÷'s second week at the summit in its current run, it is the 20th week in total that the album - which sold 32,034 copies last week, including 8,310 from sales-equivalent streams - has spent at No.1 since its release 34 weeks ago. The continued superiority of ÷ raises to 36 the number of weeks that Sheeran has spent atop the album chart, all of them since September 2011. That puts him level with Adele, who has spent 36 weeks at No.1 – also since 2011 – atop not just the list of artists with most weeks at No.1 in the 2010s but in the 21st century as a whole.
Despite its clear superiority, ÷'s sales last week were the lowest for a No.1 since Shania Twain's Now topped the chart 13 weeks ago on sales of 20,097 copies.
Taylor Swift's REPUTATION (13-8, 11,013 sales) and Elton John's Diamonds (12-10, 10,441 sales) both returned to the Top 10 after a six-week break despite recording their lowest weekly sales to date.
Overall album sales are down 35.21% week-on-week at 1,898,072, 3.94% above same week 2017 sales of 1,826,041. Streaming accounted for 834,168 sales – a record 43.95% of the total.

Christmas With Daniel O'Donnell fell off the top 100 from No.64

Official UK Country Album Top 20 (Week Ending 11 January 2018)
05 January 2018 - 11 January 2018
Chris Stapleton with FROM A ROOM - VOL 2 rose 2-1 (5 weeks; #1 peak)
Glen Campbell with ADIOS slipped 1-2 (30 weeks; #1 peak)
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill with THE REST OF OUR LIFE lifted 4-3 (7 weeks; #2 peak) 
Kelsea Ballerini with UNAPOLOGETICALLY rose 9-4 (9 weeks; #2 peak)
Lady Antebellum with HEART BREAK held at #5 (30 weeks; #2 peak)
Darius Rucker with WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME climbed 10-5 (11 weeks; #4 peak)
Shane Richie with A COUNTRY SOUL fell 3-7 (8 weeks; #1 peak)
Margo Price with ALL AMERICAN MADE fell 6-8 (11 weeks; #1 peak)
Luke Bryan with WHAT MAKES YOU COUNTRY fell 8-9 (4 weeks; #2 peak)
Chris Stapleton with FROM A ROOM -Vol 1 fell 7-10 (35 weeks; #1 peak)
Outside the Top 10
Nathan Carter with LIVE AT 3ARENA fell 15-16 (4 weeks; #13 peak)

UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES
For a full listing of 2017 Country/Alt/ Americana albums forthcoming and past releases PLEASE check out our Country Music Store Page
(4 Jan 2018) Emily Brooke - Emily Brooke (EP; 2017 Emily Brooke)
5 Tracks/ Time: 15:29 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut: US iTunes Country #11, then #13 (#95 US all genres), Jan 5: #21
Current Location: Wellington, FL WEBSITE – FACEBOOK - TWITTER

(5 Jan 2018) Maria Palmer - A Soul So Restless (EP; Independent)
4 Tracks/ Time: 14:03 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Soundcloud
My music is a little bit country, a little bit soul, with a touch of gospel. The lyrics come from within and the stories are a blend of reality, creativity and what I like to call my 'passionate heart'.

(5 Jan 2018) Nashville Cast - Nashville, Season 6: Episode 1 (Music from the Original TV Series) (EP)
5 Tracks UK iTunes

(6 Jan 2018) Dennis Jay Richter - Long Time Comin (2018 High-Tech Productions)
11 Tracks/ Time: 40:18 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com | Facebook

CANADIAN NEWS
(3 Jan 2018) Kassandra Clack "Are You with Me"


Twenty-one year old, multi-faceted country artist Kassandra Clack kicked off her debut album with single titled "Are You with Me" (first released Oct 29 | Amazon UK | iTunes).
Excited to break into the industry Kassandra has worked with writers and producers from Vancouver to Nashville to bring you an infectious deep rooted southern sound.

Collaborating with BCCMA Award winner John MacArthur Ellis (Dixie Chicks/Doc Walker) and producer Davor Vulama( Hedley/AJ Woodworth/Blackie And The Rodeo Kings) Kassandra brings to you her recently released single "Are You with Me". Kassandra brings a newfound energy to the country music scene. WEBSITE – FACEBOOK - TWITTER

She created a Go Fund Me crowdfund campaign in 14 March 2017 ($2,035 of $6,300 raised by 18 people in 9 months)

NEWS
(2 Jan 2018) CMA To Present Country Music Streaming Study During CRS 2018
The Country Music Association (CMA) will present its "2017 Country Music Streaming Study: The Way Forward To Drive Consumption" during this year's COUNTRY RADIO SEMINAR (CRS), set for Monday, February 5th through Wednesday, February 7th at NASHVILLE's OMNI HOTEL. The research was conducted over a nine-month period and included more than 2,500 Country music listeners, whose music streaming behaviors were tracked on their mobile devices, PCs, and laptops, in addition to extensive quantitative survey research describing their attitudes and perceptions about streaming experiences and providers. CMA Sr. Dir./Consumer Research Karen Stump and Magid And Associates VP/Research Andrew Hare will present the research on Wednesday, February 7th between 10-10:50a (CT).
"CMA is excited to present this unique research that captures current streaming behaviors and experiences," said STUMP. "By leveraging the learnings provided, all segments of the industry can have an expanded understanding of how we all work together to bring Country music to our fans every day through streaming."

(2 Jan 2018) Blake Shelton Re-Signs With Warner Bros./WMN
Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville's Blake Shelton recently inked a deal reaffirming his commitment to his 17-year label home. "BLAKE SHELTON is a cornerstone artist for Warner Music Nashville," said WMN Chairman/CEO John Esposito. "Blake, Narvel Blackstock, and the whole label team put a stake in the ground years ago to prove that Blake was going to do unprecedented things in this business and be the artist to help us bring WARNER back to greatness. Blake indeed has and will continue to break new ground. I am thrilled beyond words, and there is no better CHRISTMAS present than Blake committing to WARNER for many years to come. He is a brother, and I love him and his humanity!"

(3 Jan 2018) New Album 'Revival' & 2018 Tour Pre-order the new album Revival from Jenn Bostic, out in April 2018. - Pledge Music.com

(4 Jan 2018) Legendary country singer and piano player Mickey Gilley and his son, Michael, were involved in a car accident on Wednesday (Jan 3). They were heading to Branson, Missouri, where Mickey owns a theater and performs regularly.
Southeast Texas' KFDM reported that Michael was driving when another driver ran a stop sign in front of them. Michael tried swerving out of the way, but clipped the vehicle, which made the SUV he was driving his father in roll four times and land upside down.
Due to the injuries, Gilley was forced to reschedule his January 6 show at The Texas Theatre in Greenville, Texas. While the new date will be announced in the coming weeks, he plans to resume his normal touring schedule on January 20 at the Orange Blossom Opry in Weirsdale, Florida.
“I had an accident yesterday. We rolled a car about three times over,” Gilley explains to fans via Facebook, “I have a fractured left ankle and a fractured right shoulder. I am having a hard time walking because I have a big boot on my left leg. But other than that I’m doing pretty good. To be 81 years old and put myself through what I’ve been through it’s kinda tough sometimes on the old man but I don’t intend to retire. I will be out there on the road and I’ll see you real soon.” To watch his entire videoed statement on Facebook, click here.

AWARDS
(4 Jan 2018) The members of Little Big Town have been announced as one of the first performers for this year’s GRAMMY Awards. The initial list of artists taking the stage also includes Lady Gaga, Pink and Childish Gambino.
Little Big Town has a pair of GRAMMY nominations for Best Country Album for The Breaker and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for their hit smash “Better Man.”

TV
(3 Jan 2018) Third Man/In2une's Margo Price performed "A Little Pain" on CBS-TV's The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Jan 2nd. Watch >> here.
(3 Jan 2018) Capitol's Keith Urban paid tribute to some of the artists who died in 2017 during his New Year's Eve concert in Nashville. Watch >> here.

(5 Jan 2018) NASHVILLE Season 6, Ep 1: NEW STRINGS After a public meltdown, Juliette seeks to change her life from an unlikely source. Scarlett and Maddie take a trip. Maddie meets Jonah Ford, a famous pop star. Scarlett struggles to find herself. Will coaches Gunnar. Deacon deals with loneliness. Watch on www.cmt.com

MUSIC NEWS
(3 Jan 2018) Taylor Swift sold an incredible $180 million (£132 million) in tickets to her Reputation Stadium Tour in just seven days.
It was reported earlier this week that sales to see Taylor perform live were not doing well in the wake of the various scandals the star has weathered over the past year. However, these claims were dismissed as Billboard got their hands on sales data from sources close to the singer, which showed that she is having no trouble offloading tickets to her shows.
Billboard reports that the $180 million came from four days of verified fan pre-sales, and three days of public sales.
And while none of the shows have yet sold out, this is something Taylor's team have anticipated. After the huge demand for tickets for her last tour, which lead to millions of tickets being snapped up by touts and sold on at a higher cost, Taylor and her team are using the slow-ticketing method for the Reputation Stadium Tour. This means that tickets are priced higher than for her previous tours, to discourage touts, and many fans have been given their own "slots" at which point they are able to purchase the tour tickets.

(3 Jan 2018) Rising UK music consumption enjoys fastest growth this Millennium
https://www.bpi.co.uk/news-analysis/rising-uk-music-consumption-enjoys-fastest-growth-this-millennium/
135.1 million albums or their equivalent were either streamed, purchased or downloaded in 2017
68.1 billion audio streams were served – now accounting for over half of UK music consumption (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and other audio streaming services). This represents a 51.5% spike on 2016 and a remarkable 1,740 per cent increase since 2012. 
Vinyl up 26.8% as unit sales hit 4m mark; LPs now account for almost 1 in 10 physical purchases.
Streaming (50.4%) now accounts for over half of UK music consumption; 1.5bn weekly streams milestone
UK CD Sales were 41.6 million in 2017 (down 11% on 2016) compared to 162.4 million in 2004. CD sales fell by 11.7 percent in 2016 with 47 million units sold in the calendar year. CD sales in 2014 were 55.7m. Total sales of CDs fell just 3.7 per cent to 53.6m in 2015 compared with the previous year whereas in 2014 they dropped 8 per cent, in 2013 they fell 12 per cent and in 2012 they plunged 20 per cent. (CD Decline graphic)
Quote: Smart speakers are just the latest innovation likely to have a transformative effect on digital music consumption and discovery, and how this develops may well be the story of 2018.
Vinyl set for 1 million LPs gifting bonanza this Christmas - www.bpi.co.uk
UK acts accounted for eight of the top-10 best-selling artist albums in 2017, with Ed Sheeran leading another successful year for British artists by laying claim to his own personal ‘grand slam’. Divide was the year's most streamed, physically purchased (both on CD and LP) and downloaded album – marking the 13th year in a row that the best-selling artist album has come from a British act4. Ed also claimed the year's biggest single with Shape of You, whilst his hit Perfect gave him his first Christmas No.1 single to round off a remarkable year.

(4 Jan 2018) BuzzAngle Music: 2017 Music Consumption Up 12.8%
U.S. music consumption rose 12.8% in 2017, the third consecutive year of increasing growth, according to BUZZANGLE MUSIC’s 2017 report. Audio stream consumption continued to skyrocket, boasting a 50.3% increase to 377 billion streams, with subscription streams comprising an impressive 80% of total audio streams, up from 76% in 2016.
That growth overshadows predicted declines in both album sales (14.6%) and song sales (23.2%). Physical sales declined only 7%, while vinyl sales grew by 20.1% over 2016 and now comprises 10.4% of all physical album sales

(4 Jan 2018) Reports Say Spotify Has Filed With The SEC To Go Public In Q1 2018
Numerous sources are reporting that SPOTIFY is set to go public. The streaming company led the news (Jan 3) with word that it was being sued in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles by Wixen Music Publishing, which is accusing SPOTIFY USA of streaming millions of unlicensed songs in what it calls "massive, systemic copyright infringement."

PRESS RELEASES
(3 Jan 2018) 2018 is a milestone year that marks the 55th Anniversary for a band formed in Richmond, Ky. in 1963. Crossover hit-making band, Exile, is celebrating the band’s distinguished career as the longest running self-contained vocal group. Exile has sold over 8 million records, including three Gold records and eleven number one hit songs, along with numerous hits on the pop and country charts. They are known for major hits including “Kiss You All Over,” “Give Me One More Chance,” and “I Don’t Want to Be a Memory,” to name a few. Exile music is available on all digital platforms here.
"We're excited and proud to commemorate this landmark achievement in Exile's history of 55 years as a band as well as celebrating the 40th Anniversary of ‘Kiss You All Over’ this year!” said members of Exile, adding, ”there are some very special plans for 2018, and we cannot wait to share them with all our fans."
Fittingly and appropriately titled the No Limit Tour, the trailblazing band has announced the first round of dates for 2018 and hints that they have a few more surprises up their sleeves to make this year memorable. Read More & US Dates

ARTICLES
(4 Jan 2018) In his latest Off The Record column published in Music Republic magazine Alan Cackett writes about the much-maligned Garth Brooks and explains why he thinks those who continually criticise him are mistaken and that they should look more openly at the positive changes he’s made to country music around the world, instead of keep harping on about negativity.

INTERVIEWS
(3 Jan 2018) Jana Martin (janakate) Producer & Host Country Backroads Podcast & Review interview with Warner Brothers recording artist, Raelynn. - www.backroadspodcast.com/raelynn
Archive Country Backroads Podcast and Review - iTunes
Jana Martin is a television (HarberTV.com) and podcast producer who founded this show a year ago to bring forward the unheard and personal stories of our favorite country music stars.
(4 Jan 2018) Carly Pearce Answers '10 Questions'
"I think every new artist would tell you that this is the highest honor; Country radio is why we get to do what we get to do, and the fact that they chose and thought enough about who I am and the music I'm making and putting out there - they thought it was worthy of being one of the five of who they're kind of betting on and rooting for."
That's Big Machine Records' Carly Pearce in this week's "10 QUESTIONS" feature. PEARCE is one of five performers selected to take the stage at this year's Country Radio Seminar (CRS) "New Faces" showcase.

MAGAZINES
(5 Jan 2018) NKD Magazine Issue #79 (January 2018) Includes feature on DEVIN DAWSON: On his path to country music + his debut album, dark horse

COUNTRY GOSSIP
(3 Jan 2018) Country star RaeLynn is "praying" for her dog's safe return after the Chihuahua went missing in Tennessee on New Year's Eve (31Dec17).
The Love Triangle singer, who rose to prominence after competing on America's The Voice in 2012, celebrated the end of 2017 by performing a free show at amusement park the Island in Pigeon Forge, but she was left fearing for her pet Dolly's safety after the sound of fireworks caused the scared pooch to run off.
She urged locals to keep an eye out for her furry friend in a post on social media, writing, "Please let me know if you see her in the Pigeon Forge/Gattlinburg area."
RaeLynn was still searching for her little pup on Tuesday (02Jan18), and expressed her gratitude to her friend and U.S. reality star Todd Chrisley for offering a $5,000 (£3,680) reward for the dog's safe return.

(3 Jan 2018) Carrie Underwood says a "gruesome" fall that left her injured last November was more severe than what has previously been made public.

The country superstar broke her wrist in the fall, which sidelined her from a benefit concert and required physical therapy.
But in a blog post on her official fan website this week, Underwood also revealed that she injured her face, too.
"There is also another part of the story that I haven't been ready to talk about, since I have still been living it and there has been much uncertainty as to how things will end up," she wrote in the New Year's Eve post, which was reviewed by CNN. "It's crazy how a freak random accident can change your life. In addition to breaking my wrist, I somehow managed to injure my face as well."
Underwood said she would spare fans the "gruesome details," but added that the doctor said he had put "between 40-50 stitches in." Several weeks after the incident, Underwood said she is "still healing and not quite looking the same." She added, however, that she is "grateful that it wasn't much, much worse."

BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays in the week ahead
January 8: Tift Merritt (1975), the late Elvis Presley (Jan 8, 1935; died Aug 16, 1977 (aged 42))
January 9: Crystal Gayle (1951), Joan Baez (1941), the late Jimmy Boyd - (Jan 9, 1940; died March 7, 2009 (aged 70))
January 10: Kelly Lang - (1967), Hannah Rose Platt
January 11: the late Goldie Hill (Jan 11 1933; died February 24, 2005 (aged 72)), Naomi Judd (1946), Robert Earl Keen (1956)
January 12: the late Ray Price (Jan 12, 1926; Dec 16, 2013 (aged 87)), the late Tex Ritter (Jan 12, 1905; died Jan 2, 1974 (aged 68)), Ricky Van Shelton - (1952), Claudia Church (1962) 
January 13: the late Liz Anderson (Jan 13, 1927; died Oct 31, 2011 (aged 84)), Trace Adkins (1952), Tia McGraff
January 14 the late Billie Jo Spears - (Jan 14, 1937; died Dec 14, 2011 (aged 74)), the late Billy Walker - (Jan 14, 1929; died May 21, 2006 (aged 77)), Billy Francis (Dr Hook) (1942)

R.I.P
(3 Jan 2018) Producer/publisher/ songwriter/musician and Fame Recording Studios founder Rick Hall died Tuesday morning (Jan 2, 2018) at age 85 in Muscle Shoals, AL. Known as the "Father of Muscle Shoals Music," Hall produced artists including Jerry Reed, Bobbie Gentry, Shenandoah and Mac Davis, and his studio was home to recordings by Etta James, Wilson Pickett and Aretha Franklin, among others. Arrangements are pending.


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