Thursday 29 August 2019

Country Bites News snippets August 5 – August 11, 2019

UK News, UK Chart News, Album & Single Releases, US & Canadian News, Music News, Press Releases, TV, Interviews, Articles & Videos, Birthdays

BREAKING NEWS
Country News – August 14, 2019 with Shannon McCombs
This week, Shannon makes the rounds in Nashville and talks with Blake Shelton about his #1 song "God’s Country." Would you believe he was livin’ the song when he first heard it? Plus… Brett Eldredge talks about life after giving up his Smart Phone! Might be surprised to find out what he misses the most.



UK NEWS
(9 Aug 2019) UK Country Music Awards
More artists have been added to the performance lineup at The UK Country Music Awards, presented by UKCountryRadio.com at Radisson Blu East Midlands Airport on Saturday 14th September.
Leading Finalist Helena Mace, who is up for four Awards, will perform as an acoustic trio while Wayne Jacobs, a multiple winner of our Listeners' Club Song Award in previous years, will perform his song "Father Daughter Dance", a finalist for the UKCountryRadio.com Song Award this year.
Fellow UKCountryRadio.com Song Award Finalists, the Perth-based band Longstay will perform a set, including their song "Summerton". UKCountryRadio.com are delighted that six-piece London-based band Grand Prairie will be back to perform once again this year. And UK Country Group of the Year Finalists Dirt Road Diary will also take to the stage to perform.
They are joined by previously announced performers Danny McMahon and his band, Paul Martin and Blueridge and country, Americana and blues singer-songwriter Lexie Green.
The event includes the announcements of the winners of all eight of The UK Country Music Awards, and a three-course celebratory dinner. More details at HERE

(9 Aug 2019) Double UK Country Music Awards Finalist Penny Jayne Black is due to return to Nashville in October to complete her next album. It will be released in early 2020 and will include the recent single "I'm Fine" and "Steel Horse".
You can hear "Steel Horse" on air with UKCountryRadio.com this month. It's about a girl who falls in love with a bit of a bad guy. She is rebelling against her parents by going out with him. She knows they won't approve but she thinks he's awesome - and he rides a Harley! The single debuted on the Hotdisc Top 40 at #25 (dated Aug 11, 2019) and has climbed aso far to #18.
Meanwhile, over in the US, Penny has just released a new single "Gone" to country music radio.
She is a finalist for both UK Female Country Singer of the Year and UK Country Artist of The Year at the UK Country Music Awards in September.

UK TOUR & GIG UPDATES

Link to Country Routes News Gig Page Image Map

UK CHART NEWS

Official UK Top 100 Singles Chart (Week Ending 15 August 2019)
9 August 2019 - 15 August 2019
Ariana Grande set off in hot pursuit of her sixth No.1 single this week with new song Boyfriend – a collaboration with previously uncharted Pittsburgh duo Social House which topped the first three sales flashes of the week. Despite its start, the track ultimately fell behind the incumbent Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello collaboration Senorita on paid-for sales and audio streaming, and didn’t have enough of a video stream advantage to take the overall chart leadership.
The No.1 slot thus remained in the hands of Mendes and Cabello, for the third week in a row, and fourth time in all with Senorita, which is attended by their lowest consumption yet of 58,957 units (including 51,767 from sales-equivalent streams +  7,190 pure-sales).
Grande had to settle for the still considerable achievement of 14 Top 10 hits and 30 Top 75 hits in a chart career of less than seven years, with Boyfriend opening at No.4 (43,996 units).

Blanco Brown with The Git Up (Broken Bow) made a debut at No.96 (estimated consumption units of 5000)

Official UK Top 100 Albums Chart (Week Ending 15 August 2019)
9 August 2019 - 15 August 2019
No.1 on physical sales, paid-for downloads and streaming by some distance yet again, Ed Sheeran’s fourth studio album, No.6 COLLABORATIONS PROJECT, remained atop the artist album chart for the fourth straight week on consumption of 32,114 units, including 19,051 from sales-related streams + 13,063 paid-for sales.

Scottish singer/songwriter Karine Polwart had her first ever Top 50 album, opening at No.34 (2,246 sales) with Scottish Songbook. Polwart usually records her own song but this affectionate tribute to the 48-year-old Falkirk singer’s fellow countrymen finds her tackling Strawberry Switchblade’s Since Yesterday, Deacon Blue’s Dignity, Gerry Rafferty’s Whatever’s Written In Your Heart, The Blue Niles’ From Rags To Riches and more of the same. Polwart previously reached No.57 with Traces in 2012 and No.64 with Laws Of Motion (feat. Steven Polwart & Inge Thomson) last year.

ABBA's greatest hits collection Gold (40-35) is the longest-running Top 100 album ever
The 1992 career retrospective has spent its 900th week on the Official Albums Chart. You could be forgiven for thinking that ABBA had no more records left to break, but the Swedish pop legends never stop!
Gold, the band's greatest hits collection originally released in 1992, has passed its 900th week on the Official Albums Chart, making it the longest-running Top 100 album of all time.
Gold features all nine of ABBA's UK Number 1 hit singles – Waterloo, Mamma Mia, Fernando, Dancing Queen, Knowing Me Knowing You, Take a Chance on Me, The Winner Takes it All, and Super Trouper – and went straight in at Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart when released in 1992.

Official UK Country Album Top 20 Chart (Week Ending 15 August 2019)
9 August 2019 - 15 August 2019
Tyler Childers with COUNTRY SQUIRE made a debut at No.1
Keifer Sutherland with RECKLESS & ME fell 1-2 (15 weeks; #1 peak)
Willie Nelson with RIDE ME HOME fell 2-3 (7 weeks; #1 peak)
Chris Stapleton with TRAVELLER held at No.4 (74 weeks; #1 peak)
Jessie Buckley with WILD ROSE - OST fell 3-5 (17 weeks; #1 peak)
Kacey Musgraves with GOLDEN HOUR rose 7-6 (62 weeks; #1 peak)
KD Lang with INGENUE fell 5-7 (150 weeks; #1 peak)
Carrie Underwood with CRY PRETTY fell 6-8 (47 weeks; #1 peak)
JJ Cale with STAY AROPUND held at No.9 (15 weeks; #2 peak)
Ward Thomas with RESTLESS MINDS rose 11-10 (26 weeks; #1 peak)
Outside the Top 10
Lucas Nelson/ Promise Of The Real with Lucas Nelson & Promise Of The Real fell 8-12 (18 weeks; #8 peak)





















COUNTRY ALBUM & SINGLES RELEASES

(9 Aug 2019) Gina Jeffreys - Beautiful Tangle (Sonic Timber Records) AUS
14 Tracks/ Time: 50:53 Americana Amazon UK - iTunes

Debut #15 UK Country iTunes Chart (#682 UK iTunes all-genres) | Debut #1 AUS Country iTunes Chart (#14 UK iTunes all-genres)
GINA JEFFREYS RETURNS with her STUNNING new album 'BEAUTIFUL TANGLE'
Featuring the Number 1 hit CASH, Beautiful Tangle is full of heart, energy and quality.
#1 on the Australian Country iTunes chart
As the first female country artist in Australia to sell platinum albums and perform national sell-out shows, Gina Jeffreys took a 12-year break from releasing new music to raise her family and now makes a welcome return on August 9 with her beautifully crafted and emotional new album ‘Beautiful Tangle’.
Gina will be back on the road with the ‘Beautiful Tangle Tour’ taking in venues across Australia from August 10 and into the New Year.
Speaking about the album Gina said, “We all sat in the same room and recorded all the tracks live. It’s pretty organic. Kind of stripped back and naked!! There are songs that were hard to write without crying.  Songs about family, my love, my heart and my life. I kind of feel as excited as I did when my first album came out over 25 years ago.”

(9 Aug 2019) Jesse Dayton - Mixtape Volume 1 (Blue Elan Records)
10 Tracks/ Time: 35:27 Amazon UK - iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut #49 UK Country iTunes Chart
The appropriately titled disc is over in a flash and while these seem like tunes Dayton might lob in as an encore to one of his sweat-soaked shows, it’s far from a tossed-off release. Read More American Songwriter (Rating: 3.1/2 STARS)

(9 Aug 2019) Cliff Cody - A Mess Like Me (Cliff Cody)
12 Tracks/ Time: 43:55 Amazon UK - iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut #2 US Country iTunes Chart (#33 US iTunes all-genres) | Sat 10 Aug: #7 US Country iTunes Chart
Genre: Singer/Songwriter | Hometown: Perry County, Ohio
Working as a bouncer at a West Texas honky-tonk, Cliff Cody’s life changed forever when the waitress dared him to sing at Karaoke Night. Lucky for Cliff, a band was in the audience looking for a lead singer. They offered Cliff the job that night. The next day he bought a guitar, a week later he had written his first song and 6 months after that, he moved to Nashville. 
After living in Nashville for 4 years with little success, Cliff went back to school and became an RN. While at a songwriter’s retreat in Wyoming, he met his songwriting hero—D. Vincent Williams and he told Cliff something that would change his path. “Whatever “it” is, you’ve got it and I don’t think you even realize it.” That was the encouragement he needed and in 2005 Cliff signed his first publishing contract with EMI/Sony Music.

(9 Aug 2019) Matt Dylan - Keep on Keeping On (EP; Motivated Music Group)
6 Tracks/ Time: 19:12 Amazon UK - iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut #40 US Country iTunes Chart (#339 US iTunes all-genres)
4. I Got a Lot on My Mind 2:33

(9 Aug 2019) Beth Bombara - Evergreen (Lemp Electric)
10 Tracks/ Time: 35:38 Americana Amazon - iTunes
A Stepping-Stone in the Right Direction For Alt. Country Stardom.
While many of my peers were instantly smitten by Beth Bombara’s last recorded outing Map and No Direction, I couldn’t get my head around it and thought the title very apt indeed.
Jump forward a couple of years and I’m not 100% sure I’m listening to the same singer and songwriter (I am btw).
There’s a new self-confidence and maturity in not just Beth’s writing, but her singing too, starting with the criminally beautiful I Only Cry When I’m Sad. The title says it all really and add Beth’s rich and earthy vocals to Samuel Gregg’s crunch electric guitar and Mike Schurk’s ‘enhanced heartbeat’ drumming and you have an almost perfect Country Heartbreaker....Read more - Rocking Magpie

(9 Aug 2019) Smooth Hound Smith - Dog in a Manger (Smooth Hound Smith / Tone Tree Muisc)
10 Tracks/ Time: 34:07 Pop Singer/Songwriter Amazon UK - UK iTunes

(9 Aug 2019) Olivia Lane - The One (Big Spark Music Group)
7 Tracks/ Time: 21:51 Amazon UK - iTunes
Debut #9 UK Country iTunes Chart (#374 UK iTunes all-genres); then #21, then #29 (below #700) | Debut #21 US Country iTunes Chart
The One features talented country music singer/songwriter Olivia Lane at her very best as she tackles a multitude of subjects close to her, pouring her heart into meaningful personal statements including “So Good It Hurts,” “Friends Don’t” and “The Cape.” 
“It’s been three years since I’ve put out my last project,” said Lane. “In that time, I made it a priority to figure out how to love and take care of myself. Each song on my new EP The One explores a lesson learned along the journey to self-acceptance. I’m so excited to let you in on where my head and heart are now.”
With 5m+ views on her previous video "So Good It Hurts", Olivia celebrates her new EP by releasing a new video for “The Cape,” a song about never losing the superhero within yourself. 
Following her first trip to the UK earlier in the year and multiple national BBC radio plays, the last few months have been a busy time for Olivia leading up to the release of The One. On August 28th she is set to showcase a new tune on Songland, NBC’s new songwriting TV series. Olivia collaborated with Grammy-winning producer Ester Deen (Rita Ora, Florence + The Machine, David Guetta) on the track to perform for featured guest artist Leona Lewis.

(9 Aug 2019) Maybe April - The Other Side (Maybe April)
10 Tracks/ Time: 34:08 Amazon UK - iTunes
Debut #77 US Country iTunes Chart (#666 US iTunes all-genres)
Band Members: Katy DuBois (Bishop), Alaina Stacey
Hometown: Nashville, TN | Americana / Country band based in Nashville, TN.
Biography
Maybe April is a Country Americana group made up of Katy DuBois (Bishop) and Alaina Stacey. Hailing from Jonesboro, AR and Chicago, IL, they met in the summer of 2012 at a music industry camp in Nashville, TN. They wrote a song that would later take them to Los Angeles to play at a GRAMMY week event, along with Bonnie Raitt, Kris Kristofferson, Allen Shamblin, Gavin DeGraw, J.D. Souther, Joy Williams from the Civil Wars, and many others. Since then, amongst hundreds of shows, the girls have opened for Brandy Clark and Sarah Jarosz, played Pilgrimage Music Festival and IBMA's Wide Open Bluegrass Festival, and had their video "Last Time" premiered on CMT. 

(9 Aug 2019) Savannah J - Recap (EP; Savannah J Music)
5 Tracks/ Time: 22:16 Pop Amazon UK - iTunes

(3 Aug 2019) Taylor Dee - The Buzz (Taylor Dee Music)
10 Tracks/ Time: 36:57 Amazon UK - iTunes
The buzz is a collection of classic country with a dash of soul, pop, and a Little Rock and roll.
Taylor Dee finds inspiration all around her In Royse City, Texas! She grew up in Mesquite, Rockwall, Forney, and Plano- and decided to settle with her family in Royse City. She has two children- Vayden Cash who is 9 and River Monroe is 2. Taylor hopes to not only inspire others, but help others with identifying with the struggles she has overcome.
“I try to make my music representative of myself, my generation, and my past. I hope to make people feel something when I perform. I carry my pain and my strength everyday & I love the people and places that most people don't give a second glance.”- Taylor Dee
Taylor Dee is a country singer/songwriter from Royse City, Texas. She is an ambassador for Global Country Music Association supporting women in Country music!

(9 Aug 2019) Chris Carroll & Adam Carroll - Good Farmer (Down Hole Records)
10 Tracks/ Time: 35:03 Americana / Folk / Roots Country Amazon UK

(9 Aug 2019) Audie Blaylock And RedLine - Originalist (The 615 Hideaway Records)
12 Tracks/ Time: 35:04 Bluegrass / Acoustic / Roots Amazon UK

(9 Aug 2019) Tennessee Twin - Tips in a Jar (EP; Dreamland Records) UK
5 Tracks/ Time: 20:12 Amazon UK - iTunes
Debut #1 UK Country iTunes Chart (#150 UK iTunes all-genres), then #3 (#191 all-genres), then #4 (#210 all-genres), then #5 (#237) | Sat Aug 10: #5 (#319), then #10 (#513) | Tues Aug 13: off the top 200
They shared via social media:  *** We Have A No.1 Album!!!!!!! ***  We woke this morning to the most amazing news, our EP 'Tips In A Jar' launched today and went straight into the iTunes UK Country Chart at No.1!!!!
We're shocked, amazed and not a little humbled at the incredible support from all of you who have supported us by seeing our shows, sharing our story and buying our music. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you! Geoff & Victoria Tennessee Twin

(9 Aug 2019) Clara Bond - Crown (EP; Clara Bond) UK
4 Tracks/ Time: Pop Amazon UK - iTunes
Building Our Own Nashville -  She is determined to carve her own path, to find a sound that is right for her. And if this is it, then she is on a road to a bright future. These are exciting times for Exeter’s finest. Crown cements her place alongside the cream of UK country talent.

9 Aug 2019) Kevin McGuire - The Night Is Young (T.N.I.Y) (Single; Kevin McGuire) UK
Time: 3:29 Amazon UK - iTunes - Spotify
Celebmix.com (Laura Klonowski): Kevin McGuire is back! The fast-rising Scottish country-pop singer/songwriter today (Friday, August 9th) returns with brand new single ‘The Night Is Young’. This is the first taste of new music from the multi-talented vocalist and instrumentalist since he shared ‘As Good As It Gets’ back in February of this year.
Chris Country Radio had the exclusive first play, "it’s awesome"!
Now, following 6 months of hard work in the recording studio, McGuire is back with a bang. His latest offering is an American country-sounding pop-infused anthem that will have fans singing along from the very first line.
This is a song that the likes of Sam Hunt and Kane Brown would be proud of releasing and the fact that we have this amazing talent coming through the ranks here in the UK showcases the strength of the ever-growing country music scene Britain has.
But while it definitely has that US vibe, it still manages to keep ties to the homegrown sound and Kevin McGuire’s gravel enriched vocals deliver a striking backdrop to the poppy sounding overlays of the production.
This is without doubt Kevin’s best release to date and proves that these several months spent locked away in the studio penning new music have been well and truly worth it for the rising star.
Lyric Magazine #30SecondReview Superbly produced summer song by KMG. Serious early-Hunter Hayes vibes Scotland? This could easily be Nashville born & bred. If this was a Rascal Flatts new song it would be HUGE!

(9 Aug 2019) Charlotte Mary - Man Up (Single; Charlotte Mary) UK
Americana Amazon UK - UK iTunes
1. Man Up 3:04
2. Man Up 3:04
Band Members: Charlotte Kinsella - Vocals/Piano/Rhythm Guitar; James Frankland - Lead Guitar; Dec James - Bass; James Gallichan - Acoustic/Electric Guitarist
Hometown: Manchester | Country Singer-songwriter from Manchester.

(9 Aug 2019) Lisa McHugh - Watch Me (Single; LMH Music Production Limited.) UK 
Debut #58 UK Pop iTunes Chart (#168 UK iTunes all-genres), then #62
Time: 3:05 Pop Amazon UK - iTunes
She shared: I wrote this in Nashville with an amazingly talent girl from Australia Katrina Burgoyne

(10 Aug 2019) Lauren Jane - If I Was Whiskey (Single; Lauren Jane) UK
Time: 3:46 Amazon UK - iTunes
Debut #11 UK Country iTunes Single Chart

CANADIAN NEWS
(7 Aug 2019) NEW MUSIC Mariya Stokes Hands On My Body
With the digital release of her debut single, "Hands on My Body" (February 2019), Calgary based Mariya Stokes introduced herself with a simple, sexy anthem that blurs the lines between country and pop with edgy lyrics and an R&B inspired groove. Produced by Spencer Cheyne (Brett Kissel, Jocelyn Alice) and Justin Kudding (Brett Kissel, Leaving Thomas), at OCL studios (Calgary), this quirky, sex- positive anthem features Stokes unapologetically asking for what she wants, and she hopes the song empowers and inspires other women to do the same "I'm so proud of this song and what it says to women everywhere. It's about owning your body and choices. We're taught how to say 'no', but I think it's important to know what an enthusiastic 'HECK, YES' looks like too, and that there's no shame in that," says Stokes. "I hope when people hear this, it makes them feel empowered to ask for what they want and to groove along."
If Kacey Musgraves and Meghan Trainor had a country-soul love-child, the result would be Mariya Stokes.
Mariya Stokes - Hands on My Body (>> Official Music Video)

(12 Aug 2019) Garth Brooks Brings Colossal The Garth Brooks Stadium Tour To Canada Entertaining 80,000 Fans Across Two Nights At Regina, Sk’s Mosaic Stadium
Garth Brooks wrapped a powerful weekend in Regina, SK bringing the “turbo-charged” (Variety) THE GARTH BROOKS STADIUM TOUR to a sea of dedicated fans Friday (Aug 9) and Saturday night (Aug 10), for two back-to-back shows at Mosiac Stadium. Friday’s show saw Brooks take to the stage following a weather delay with Regina Leader Post praising the entertainer as he “puts on epic show, post-storm.” Brooks unleashed hit after hit each night while entertaining 80,000 fans across both nights in Canada. The unforgettable Regina shows marked the first-ever country concert events held at Mosaic Stadium. Brooks, who added the second Regina, SK date (8/10) due to huge demand, will continue on the monumental tour with more show dates to be announced in the coming months.

NEWS
(8 Aug 2019) ARE YOU KIDDING!?! Over $300,000 raised (£249,500 pledged of £24,719 goal by 2,494 backers with 21 days to go). Delta Rae's Kickstarter went over 1,000% funded making them one of the top ten most funded Music Kickstarter Campaigns of ALL TIME.
They shared a secret never-before-seen music video that they have never released slated as "one of the most incredibly ambitious undertakings we've ever attempted — even rivaling that of Icelandic cliff jumps — and that it was only made possible thanks to hundreds of Delta Rae fans volunteering their time and being supremely badass".

(8 Aug 2019) Kelsea Ballerini and Lil Nas X were listed among Variety's "Young Hollywood Impact Report 2019." Full list here.
Ballerini has brought the same spunk, sensitivity and sense of rapidly maturing songwriting to her first two albums that Taylor Swift brought to her first early country/pop crossover material. The 25-year-old spent her mid-summer listening to mixes for her third album (due in 2020) and making a video for its first single (due any time now), which, given her personal track record, will likely reflect her newlywed status.
At age 20, Lil Nas X went from allegedly running a Nicki Minaj fan account to facing sudden, stratospheric stardom after releasing ubiquitous smash “Old Town Road” in December. The hip-hop-inflected contender for song of summer initially gained traction on video app TikTok, raising eyebrows for its country leanings before going full cowboy with its remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus.

(8 Aug 2019) Willie Nelson had to cancel his remaining August tour dates, citing health problems in a tweet Wednesday (7 Aug), saying "I’m sorry to cancel my tour, but I have a breathing problem that I need to have my doctor check out. I’ll be back." A rep clarified Nelson plans to be back on the road in September, including his scheduled Farm Aid slot Sept. 21

(8 Aug 2019) River House/Columbia Nashville's Luke Combs will release his new, full-length album on Friday, November 8th, with more details -- including the title -- to be announced in the coming weeks. Combs will resume his "Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour" in late September, and has already sold out 34 of the 35 dates. Combs' This One's for You was released in 2017 and has held the top spot on the Billboard Country Albums chart for 44 weeks, breaking a record for male artists set by Randy Travis in 1987.

(8 Aug 2019) Hootie & the Blowfish Announce "Imperfect Circle" Set for November 1 Release
As a summer of sold-out shows celebrated by fans and critics alike nears its celebratory three-night U.S. finale in Columbia, S.C., the band Billboard praises as “back and better than ever” will continue the excitement into the fall with the announcement of Imperfect Circle, the first new album from Hootie & the Blowfish in nearly 15 years.
Due out November 1 on Universal Music Group's Capitol Nashville imprint, the album is available for pre-order.
“There’s something timeless about their sound,” proclaimed USA Today in a story breaking the news of the album. “From their stupendous 1994 debut Cracked Rear View, which is certified 21x Platinum (equivalent to 21 million certified units sold), to their anticipated reunion album, Imperfect Circle... Hootie & the Blowfish appear ready to pick up where they left off as a pop music phenomenon. Yet they haven’t forgotten where they began because, really, they never left that place.”

(8 Aug 2019) Lockeland, a new Country trio comprising Michael Boris, Kyndon Oakes and Mark Vikingstad, will release their second single Drive on 30th August 2019.
The track arrives ahead of the band’s appearances at The Long Road and Millport Festival this summer. Drive was written by lead singer Kyndon, guitar player Mark and Susie Brown, formerly of the JaneDear Girls).
It was co-produced by Michael Boris and Sean Spence and is currently at Country radio. The track will be available to download and stream from Friday 30th August 2019.
Driven by the band’s signature harmonies, Drive is described as being ‘geared with driving guitars, shredding fiddle and shimmering steel’ with the storyline painting ‘an image of a young love on board for an adventurous zero-to-one-hundred getaway’....Read More Entertainment-focus.com

(12 Aug 2019) Blake Shelton Calls Upon Trace Adkins for 'Hell Right,' His New Radio Single
Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins are at it again. The two friends are set return to country radio together with "Hell Right" (writers Hardy, David Garcia and Brett Tyler), 10 years after their song "Hillbilly Bone" became a chart-topping hit.
"Hell Right" is Shelton's new single, the follow-up to "God's Country" and one he says he wouldn't have ever discovered had he been working on a studio album in the traditional sense.

AMERICANA NEWS
(9 Aug 2019) Kelsey Waldon spreads an important message of acceptance on "Sunday's Children," a bluesy piece of White Noise/White Lines (out Oct. 4). Listen here

(9 Aug 2019) Michaela Anne "Somebody New" (Live from Layman Drug Company) >> YouTube

(9 Aug 2019) Aubrie Sellers "Drag You Down" >> YouTube

(9 Aug 2019) Molly Tuttle Chats With The Recording Academy "On The Road At Newport"
Molly Tuttle recently sat down with The Recording Academy for an interview at Newport Folk Festival to talk about her new album WHEN YOU'RE READY, alopecia awareness, mental health, and more. Watch the interview HERE.

AWARDS
(7 Aug 2019) Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Announces Six New Inductees
The Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame announced Wednesday (7 Aug) that its 2019 inductees will be Larry Gatlin, Marcus Hummon, Kostas, Rivers Rutherford, Sharon Vaughn and Dwight Yoakam. The six new inductees will join the organization’s 213 existing members during the 49th anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Gala, set for Mon, October 14th at Nashville’s Music City Center.
Hummon, Kostas and Rutherford will be inducted in the songwriter category; Vaughn in the veteran songwriter category; Yoakam as a songwriter/artist; and Gatlin as a veteran songwriter/artist.

(12 Aug 2019) Lauren AlainaBobby BonesCaylee HammackMiranda LambertShane McAnallyMidlandBilly Joe Shaver and Chris Young have joined the list of talent participating in the 13th Annual ACM Honors Aug. 21 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. More here; tickets here.

TV
(8 Aug 2019) In Case You Missed It:  Capitol's Keith Urban performed "Wasted Time," "We Were," "Somewhere In My Car" and "Blue Ain't Your Color" on ABC's GMA Summer Concert Series (8/9). Interview here.

(8 Aug 2019) Read/watch The Highwomen's interview in CMA Close Up here. (11 Aug 2019) In Case You Missed It: BBRMG/BMG's Blanco Brown performed "The Git Up" during Fox's Teen Choice Awards (8/11). Watch here. 

(12 Aug 2019) In Case You Missed It: See The Highwomen and Jimmy Fallon cover Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" here

MUSIC NEWS
(7 Aug 2019) Apple Music Launches Apple Digital Masters, New Initiative Combining Its Hi-Res 'Mastered' Collection
Launched in 2012, Mastered for iTunes created a set of guidelines and software tools (distributed for free) that allowed engineers to optimize their music for the digital download service format by encoding from high-resolution masters. The goal of the program was to create studio-quality sound files virtually identical to the original master recordings (aka "lossless" audio), which were then placed in a special “Mastered for iTunes” section on the app. Apple notes that the majority of top releases on Apple Music currently are Apple Digital Masters, with about 75% of of the Top 100 in the U.S. and 71% of the Top 100 globally created under the program. ...Read more Billboard.com

(8 Aug 2019) Apple Music Unveils Free Data Analytics Tool for Artists, Managers
Apple Music for Artists provides detailed metrics on an artist's streaming impact in more than 100 countries
The product, available on desktop or iOS devices, uses Apple Music streaming data to give artists a comprehensive picture of their global impact and industry milestones. See more at Billboard.com

SINGLE & ALBUM TRACKS

(6 Aug 2019) neonPPL Shares New Track "love2love"
neonPPL shared a new song this past weekend (8/2), releasing the colorfully-crafted “love2love,” a buoyant and soaring commentary on the various seasons of relationships and love. The first track recorded wholly by the group’s founding members of Nashville creators further highlights the group’s "slick beats” (Billboard), and follows its first two heralded collaborations with country artists Brett Young and Danielle Bradberry, Lindsay Ell and Joy Williams. Listen to the new song, available to stream and download HERE.

PRESS RELEASES

(9 Aug 2019) Country trio Temecula Road released a brand new song, “Never Knew I Needed You” on all digital platforms. The vibey new track, written by the trio’s Dawson Anderson, along with Ben Goldsmith and Lindsay Rimes and produced by Andrew DeRoberts (Devin Dawson, Kip Moore, Eli Young Band, Jillian Jacqueline), is their second new song of the summer, a follow-up to “Fades” which hit No. 3 on Radio Disney Country’s Top 50 Chart.  A story behind the song “Never Knew I Needed You” video clip premiered today via Taste of Country.


“This song embodies that familiar saying of love finds you when you least expect it,” says the trio’s Dawson Anderson. “When writing it, we tried to capture that feeling of love hitting you out of nowhere.”

(9 Aug 2019) Miranda Lambert releases “Mess With My Head”
Miranda Lambert continues to fuel rampant anticipation for her upcoming studio album, releasing her latest track “Mess with My Head” on Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville.
(Photo Credit: Ellen von Unwerth)
“'Mess with My Head’ is a departure from anything that I’ve done before,” said Lambert. “It has a real rock edge. Part of that comes from my co-writers, Luke Dick and Natalie Hemby, and the other part of that comes from spending time in New York City. Being there has put a new energy into my music and my writing.” 

Her recently-released single “It All Comes Out in the Wash” set a career high upon its release to country radio on July 21, with 112 Billboard and Mediabase/Country Aircheck stations and SiriusXM The Highway onboard in its first week. 

Co-written by Lambert and The Love Junkies (Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose), critics have praised the “infectious, tongue-in-cheek tune” (Billboard) as a “delightful, sprightly rocker” (Rolling Stone) and a “cute-as-hell country bop” (NPR). The Grammy Award winner also responded to fan demand by dropping “rockabilly banger” (Stereogum) “Locomotive,” which she recently performed on “CMA Fest” and co-wrote with Ashley Monroe and K.S. Rhoads. 
“It All Comes Out in the Wash,” “Mess with My Head,” and “Locomotive” are available now on 
all streaming platforms and digital retailers.

(9 Aug 2019) Gethen Jenkins has released the music video for his “tear in a beer” inspired track, “Whiskey Bound.” The music video exclusively premiered on The Boot (here) and follows the recent release of Jenkins’ debut full-length album Western Gold (RED MUSIC/Five Music.), which critics have already praised as “rowdy” and “raw” (Farce the Music). Watch the music video HERE.
With 100% writing credit on the song, Jenkins describes “Whiskey Bound” as being a deeply personal track on the album, stating “This song is my anthem as far as what I’ve been through and who I am as a person,” Gethen shares of the song, “I wrote this song when I was in a pretty dark place.  It’s about moving on from a failed relationship to being my own person and being true to who I am and moving into a positive light.”
Directed by L.A. based filmmaker, Cole Needham, Jenkins filmed two music videos over two days including the previously released, boisterous, dive-bar hanging video for “Basket Case” (view here). Filmed in the hills of Silverado Canyon, California, flowing creeks and unexpected wildlife added a special touch to the video. “We were lucky enough to come across some rattlesnakes, and you can’t plan for stuff like that,” director Needham says of the opportunistic wildlife, “it was organic, and it fit the music and the feel we were going for perfectly.”
The Outlaw singer-songwriter released his debut full-length album, Western Gold, via RED MUSIC/Five Music on July 26

Related Blog Post July 2019: Gethen Jenkins releases debut full-length album, "Western Gold"

(9 Aug 2019) Kip Moore drops single “She’s Mine” ahead of London’s Roundhouse Show Sept 2nd
Multi-Platinum Singer/Songwriter Takes The Reigns As Co-Writer And Sole Producer On Anthemic New Track
Multi-PLATINUM singer/songwriter Kip Moore has dropped a new single “She’s Mine” available to listen here. The new music comes just ahead of Kip’s return to UK ground for a string of dates including London’s Roundhouse September 2nd.
The new single is the first taken from Moore’s upcoming fourth studio album and serves as an exciting first look at what one of the most loyal fanbases in the genre can expect. 
“She’s Mine” was co-written by Moore with Dan Couch and Scott Stepakoff, and also has Moore stepping into the sole producer role. The song follows Moore, a born traveller and road-warrior, as he searches for love from coast to coast with "shimmering guitar parts, a rollicking beat and his yearning vocals” (Billboard). 
James Daykin Lyric Magazine #30SecondReview: Our ‘Boss’ returns with another song about his eternal & elusive search for love. Channels 80’s Springsteen & we love it. Glorious, hands in the air, hollering out the chorus mood. Absolutely bloody marvellous.

(9 Aug 2019) Crystal Gayle Releases "Ribbon Of Darkness" Today With Lyric Video, From Forthcoming New Album 'You Don't Know Me' Out On Sept. 6
Grammy® award winning country music singer and Grand Ole Opry member Crystal Gayle released "Ribbon Of Darkness" digitally, kicking off the pre-sale for her forthcoming, first new album in nearly 16 years, You Don't Know Me.


Available everywhere Sept. 6th from Southpaw Musical Productions/BFD/The Orchard, the new music finds the acclaimed stylist exploring songs written or recorded by such country legends as Dolly Parton, Marty Robbins, Willie Nelson, Buck Owens, George Jones and Hank Williams. The album was co-produced, recorded and mixed by Crystal's son, Christos Gatzimos.
"I am so excited that my new album You Don’t Know Me is finally coming out on September 6th," said Gayle. "You can now listen to "Ribbon Of Darkness," one of my favorite tracks. "Ribbon Of Darkness" was written by Gordon Lightfoot and was a hit for Marty Robbins and Connie Smith. It was the first song I ever sang on the Grand Ole Opry. I hope you like it!"

(12 Aug 2019) Nashville based group, The Beasley Brothers channels your inner summer vibes with the release of new single, Summertime. Stream the newest release on all streaming platforms.


"This song was written to put the listener in their summertime happy place- whether that’s sitting back in a lounge chair by the lake enjoying an ice cold beverage, hanging out at the beach, or doing whatever else puts them in a relaxing summer mood," explains Beasley Brothers. 

"For us, "Summertime" was inspired by the many days we have spent at our family's lake house on Tims Ford Lake. The house itself isn't much, but the memories are plentiful. It has always been a place where close friends and family can come together and simply enjoy life."They have released three EPs to date, entitled "The First One", "Here We Go Again" and "I Can't Believe It's Christmas Time", and have begun work on their fourth album. For more information on The Beasley Brothers, please visit www.thebeasleybrothers.com


ARTICLES
(8 Aug 2019) The Highwomen and the False Dream of the Supergroup
Why do artists and their handlers keep forming supergroups? And why do those bands so frequently fall short of our hopes?
On July 31 at the Newport Folk Festival, the Highwomen gave their first-ever public performance. This quartet of two mainstream-country figures (Maren Morris and Natalie Hemby) and two Americana stars (Brandi Carlile and Amanda Shires) was the most anticipated moment of the fest, a supergroup whose combination stimulated the imagination of anyone who had ever admired several of the women individually.
To mark the occasion, the women commissioned legendary Nashville tailor Manuel to create four glittery, rhinestone-cowgirl suits, each in a different color and each with the wearer’s last name embroidered in script on the back. Supported by a band that included Shires’ husband Jason Isbell and Carlile’s longtime collaborators Tim and Phil Hanseroth, the four women performed in sequence their entire debut album due to be released September 6......Read more Paste Magazine

INTERVIEWS
(6 Aug 2019) Entertainment Focus Interview: Wade Bowen discusses his return to the UK and his upcoming Christmas album (by PIP ELLWOOD-HUGHES)

WATCH
(5 Aug 2019) Julia Cole - Trust You (>> Official Music Video) Download & Stream - https://onerpm.lnk.to/trustyou


(7 Aug 2019) Tyler Childers performed "House Fire" for the Tonight Jimmy Fallon Show audience >> YouTube

(8 Aug 2019) Beth Bombara - I Only Cry When I'm Alone/Upside Down (>> Official Video) Kit Hamon - Bass, Vocals, Mike Schurk - Drums, Samuel Gregg - Guitar, Vocals, Beth Bombara - Guitar, Vocals

(8 Aug 2019) Maddie & Tae Unveil Powerful “Die From A Broken Heart” Music Video
On the heels of their “achingly poignant” (Sun-Sentinel) current single “Die From A Broken Heart” mounting over 50 MILLION streams, PLATINUM-selling duo Maddie & Tae are sharing the heart-bending official music video today at 3pm CT with a live chat and viewing on YouTube. In line with the “raw, vulnerable” (The Huffington Post) track, the video’s powerful treatment was predominately written by the award-winning duo, taking fans on a crushing journey through the demise of a young couple’s relationship with Maddie and Tae’s Taylor Dye stepping into the acting chair, while Maddie Marlow sets the scene narrating with striking vocals. Watch the Carlos Ruiz-directed video HERE



COUNTRY FASHION
(11 Aug 2019)
The Girl Power Country and Country Line presenter Adrena Austin had such a great time shooting for Pineapple Lain Boutique (Website; Facebook ; 407 S Pineapple Ave Sarasota, FL) #boho #srq #model #nofilter #shoplocal Instagram





























She was wearing a gorgeous mustard yellow floral print dress with little accents of blue, black, and cream...cut outs at the sides, adjustable shoulder straps, and button/zipper closure at side. (Product $42.95)

Adrena donned a black Deep V Lace Romper Dress featuring intricate floral lace detailing all throughout the dress, scalloped edging along the sleeves and hemline, and a deep v neckline ($70.95 OUT OF STOCK). Alternatively choose the Caliente Lace Romper ($46.95 Website)






















Additionally, the presenter also wore a Strapless Leopard Print Jumpsuit (Product) featuring a bold brown and black leopard print; wide leg pants with pockets and a waist tie detail (Instagram)

(11 Aug 2019) Lucy Hale at Teen Choice Awards 2019






























The awards Hostess, "You Sound Good to Me" singer and Pretty Little Liars star Lucy Hale wore a Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2013 Couture red mini-dress (Not available online) adding Fit Star Pierced Tassell Earrings ($129.00), a Tarot Magic Ring Set ($99.00) and Baroque Motif Ring ($99.00) all by Swarovski, with Andrea Wazen Dassy Pumps ($420.00). 

(11 Aug 2019) Taylor Swift Rocks a Versace Look at Teen Choice Awards 2019
Taylor Swift maade her entrance on the red carpet at the 2019 Teen Choice Awards on Sunday (August 11) in Hermosa Beach, Calif. The 29-year-old singer received the Icon Award during the event tonight!
Taylor was also nominated for eight awards at the show – Choice Female Artist, Choice Song: Female Artist and Choice Pop Song for “Me,” Choice Summer Song for “You Need to Calm Down” (Winner: "Señorita" – Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello), Choice Summer Female Artist (Winner: "Expectations" – Lauren Jauregui), Choice Social Star (Winner: Noah Centineo), and Choice Fandom (Winner: BTS – Army).
Graphic Source stealherstyle.net 































FYI: Taylor wore a Versace ‘Deep V Neck Bodysuit’ (Product; $1,095.00), Simone Perele ‘Citadine Underwire Demi Bra’ (Product $110.00), Versace ‘High Rise Baroque Printed Shorts’ (Product; $695.00) and Versace ‘Barocco Pattern Blazer’ - $3,150.00 (Product) with Kat Maconie ‘Kiko Sandals’ (Product; $188.00), Misahara Jewelry ‘Zeta Hoops’ (Product; $4,000.00), and rings by Irene Neuwirth, VRAM, and Emily P Wheeler ‘Baby Platform Ring’  (Product; $3,200.00). Rocking some retro fun and flair she wore her hair with a teased 60s bouffant style (Instagram). - Credit: Taylor Swift Style.com

Teen Choice Awards 2019
Country Interest
Choice Country Artist: Dan + Shay * WINNER *, Kelsea Ballerini, Kane Brown, Kacey Musgraves, Thomas Rhett, Brett Young

Choice Country Song: "Speechless"Dan + Shay * WINNER *; "Girl" – Maren Morris; "Good as You" – Kane Brown; "Look What God Gave Her" – Thomas Rhett; "Miss Me More" – Kelsea Ballerini; "Rainbow" – Kacey Musgraves

Choice R&B/Hip-Hop Song: "Old Town Road [Remix]" – Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus * WINNER *
Teen Choice Awards 2019 - Winners Billboard >> YouTube

Taylor Swift used her winning speech to address a "sexist tweet" and told fans to "stand up for yourself" as she picked up the Icon award at the 2019 Teen Choice Awards.
"Sometimes you think if you try hard enough to make every decision perfectly, you think you can possibly ace life and never make mistakes. But it’s normal to make mistakes," she said, while clutching onto her custom surfboard award which was emblazoned with her three cats, Meredith, Olivia, and Benjamin. "If you’re out there and you’re being really hard on yourself right now for something that’s happened, or messing up or feeling embarrassed, it’s normal. That’s what going to happen to you in life. No one gets through unscathed. We’re all going to have a few scratches on us." Swift went on to honour her fans for their continued support, telling them: "You make so so happy. You make me laugh everyday. I love meeting you, you're just the most amazing generous people. Thank you for giving me the life I have." - Source Music-news.com
The annual ceremony is voted for by fans aged 13 and over and features categories in film, TV, music, sport and social media.
Former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson was also a big winner, bagging the gong for choice song: male artist for the single Two Of Us, reportedly written about his late mother.

COUNTRY GOSSIP

(5 Aug 2019) Miranda Lambert claps back at troll who said her marriage 'won't last'
Miranda Lambert has hit back at an online troll's claim her marriage to New York Police Department officer Brendan McLoughlin won't last.
The country superstar wed the NYPD officer in January, just two months after they met in the Big Apple when Miranda performed on Good Morning America with her group the Pistol Annies. And while the couple is all loved up, some fans are sceptical of the union.
On Sunday, The House That Built Me star shared a sweet clip of her beau cooking on an outside grill on Instagram, writing in the caption: "FYI The New Yorker took to the cast iron skillet just fine!"
While a number of fans flocked to send the happy couple well wishes, it was one fan's negative response which caught the 35-year-old's eye, which simply read: "It won't last."
"Sure won't!" Miranda clapped back, poking fun at the message. "I’m gonna eat every piece of it! Can’t waste chicken!”
Last month, it was revealed the star's new husband has taken a leave of absence so he can spend time with the country star before she heads out on tour at the beginning of September this year.
Miranda was previously married to Blake Shelton, but the couple split in 2015 after nine years together. He has been dating Gwen Stefani ever since.

(8 Aug 2019) Bebe Rexha wants to 'inspire and empower' women to love themselves
The 'Say My Name' hitmaker knows only too well what it is like to have self-confidence issues and hopes by speaking up about how she feels, it will help others.
In support of her new deal with bebe clothing, she said: "It's incredible to be part of this bebe campaign, it's not only about me loving the brand, but more importantly about me loving myself!

(9 Aug 2019) Kid Rock Tears Into Taylor Swift Over Her Politics
Kid Rock is not a fan of Taylor Swift's politics, and he made that clear by attacking her online on Friday (Aug. 9), posting a crude sex joke about her supposed interest in making inroads in Hollywood by supporting Democrats. "Taylor Swift wants to be a democrat because she wants to be in movies ... period," the rapper and sometimes country singer writes on Twitter. "And it looks like she will suck the door knob off Hollyweird to get there. Oldest move in the book. Good luck girl."
It's not clear what prompted Kid Rock to post the unprovoked attack, but Swift did speak out about her initial reluctance to criticize Donald Trump's candidacy for president during the 2016 elections in a new interview with Vogue, explaining that she thought it wouldn't help. She has since become politically active in public for the first time in her career, supporting a slate of Democratic efforts and opposing several Republican candidates and ballot initiatives during the 2018 midterm elections.

(11 Aug 2019) Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth have split less than eight months after their Christmas wedding.
A representative for the singer has confirmed the sad news, telling E! News in a statement the stars have decided to go their separate ways. "Ever-evolving, changing as partners and individuals, they have decided this is what’s best while they both focus on themselves and careers," the rep says, insisting the pair "still remain dedicated parents to all of their animals they share, while lovingly taking this time apart".
Miley and Liam exchanged vows at their home in Nashville, Tennessee on 23 December, after dating on and off for 10 years.

(11 Aug 2019) Kacey Musgraves blames hacker for liking Kid Rock's crude Taylor Swift tweet
Kacey Musgraves has claimed a hacker liked Kid Rock's crude post on social media about Taylor Swift.
The 30-year-old country singer reached out to the Bad Blood hitmaker and explained that her Twitter account was compromised.
Musgraves took to the social media on Saturday and denied she intentionally liked the Republican rocker's post.
"yoooo – my account was hacked. I've been working all day and just got on Twitter," she wrote. "Last week I was dragged because of how liberal I am and anyone that knows me knows how outspoken I am about equality & respect. I've connected with Taylor – she knows this is NOT how I feel and we are cool."

(12 Aug 2019) Taylor Swift has donated just under $4,823 (£4,000) to a fan who was struggling to pay for college tuition.
Ayesha from Toronto, Canada, shared a screenshot to Instagram on Monday, which shows the details of the transfer from Taylor Nation, LLC. The amount was for $6,386.47 in Canadian dollars, which converts to $4,822.55 in U.S. currency. It came with a note that read: "Ayesha, get your learn on girl. I love you! Taylor."
"I posted about struggling with paying for tuition," the fan captioned the post. "Two hours later, I get this in my email. I have no words and I can't stop crying."

PHOTO 
(6 Aug 2019) The 2019 Newport Folk Festival in Photos

(9 Aug 2019) Boot Scootin' Boujee: Ronnie Dunn (l) and Kix Brooks (r) at the opening of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's newest exhibition, Brooks & Dunn: Kings of Neon.
The exhibit encompasses the duo’s early solo careers, the circumstances that united them as performers and their innovative approach to stage production and touring and runs through July 19, 2020. As the duo’s impressive accolades grow, Brooks & Dunn will also be inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame in the “Modern Era Artist” category later this year.
The duo are also making exclusive live versions from their recent CMT Crossroads episode available, sharing “Brooks & Dunn and Friends – Live From CMT Crossroads” HEREThe three-track release features the audio from the duo’s live performances of “Brand New Man” with Luke Combs, “Red Dirt Road” with Cody Johnson and “Mama Don’t Get Dressed Up For Nothing” with LANCO.

BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays in the week ahead
Aug 12: the late Buck Owens (Aug 12, 1929; died March 25, 2006 (aged 76)), the late Porter Wagoner (Aug 12, 1927; died Oct 28, 2007 (aged 80)), Deeanne Dexeter (UK; formerly Dexeter Band) (1987), Chris Stevens (Chris Country Radio)
Aug 13: Andy Griggs (1973), the late Dan Fogelberg (Aug 13, 1951; died Dec 16, 2007 (aged 56)), Lennon Ray Louise Stella (1999) (Nashville Cast) 
Aug 14: David Crosby (Byrds) (1941), Connie Smith (1941),
Aug 15: Paul Jefferson, the late Don Rich (Aug 15, 1941; died July 17, 1974 (aged 32)), the late Rose Maddox (Aug 15, 1925; died April 15, 1998 (aged 72)), Danelle Leverett (The JaneDear Girls) 
Aug 16: Billy Joe Shaver (1939), Emily Erwin (Dixie Chicks) (1972), Ashton Shepherd (1986), Dan Smyers (Dan + Shay)
Aug 17: Kevin Welch (1955), Mitchell Tenpenny (1989) 
Aug 18: Steve Wilkinson (Wilkinsons) (1955)