Keith Urban Announced As 2016 CRS Artist Humanitarian Award Recipient

Keith Urban on Country Music News Blog!

Keith Urban Announced As 2016 CRS Artist Humanitarian Award Recipient (Nashville, Tenn. – Dec. 14, 2015) – The Country Radio Broadcasters have announced Keith Urban as the recipient of the 2016 CRS Artist Humanitarian Award, to be presented during the opening ceremonies of Country Radio Seminar on Feb. 8, 2016. Last year’s Artist Humanitarian Award recipient, Lady Antebellum, will be on hand to present Urban with this year’s award. The CRB Artist Humanitarian Award was created in 1990 by the organization’s board to honor Country music artists who have exhibited exceptional humanitarian efforts during their career. CRS Executive Director, Bill Mayne comments, “Keith Urban is a true humanitarian who gives out of love, passion, spirit, and generosity. It’s been an honor to witness quietly from the sidelines, the amount of time, talent, and passion that Keith has selflessly given over his life and career. The impact and reach of his generosity has effected so many and is so broad in scope and depth – his is a bar of humanitarian effort, that we all can be inspired by!” Over the years, Urban has been a strong supporter of numerous benefit concerts, including the annual “All For The Hall” Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum benefit concerts, which has raised nearly $3 million in proceeds.  In addition, he’s been and remains a supporter of The Grammy in the Schools program, Mr. Holland’s Opus Fund and was recently named the first Ambassador of the CMA Foundation. He is a continued supporter of the “Make A Wish” Foundation and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. As an advisory board member at St. Jude, Urban has visited the hospital and produces a calendar each year with all net proceeds going to St. Jude. Since their inception in 2003, these calendars have raised more than $850,000 for the life-saving mission of the hospital. Following the 2010 Nashville flood, he was very active in the relief efforts and participated in the re-opening of the Grand Ole Opry House, Marty Stuart’s “Late Night Jam,” GAC and Vince Gill telethons; all to raise funds for flood relief. Additionally, he has supported our nation’s troops and the Navy SEALS Foundation. Urban donated to the foundation his share of artist and publishing royalties from his song “For You,” which reached a total of $300,000. He was also the first Ambassador for the CMA Foundation’s Education Program and has donated from his line, URBAN guitars, to five Music Education Matters partner programs across the country, including programs in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York City and San Francisco. He’s also donated URBAN guitars to the Grammy Foundation and its MusiCares program, as well as donating proceeds from the guitars to Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to keep musical instruments in schools. Past recipients of the Artist Humanitarian Award have included Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Randy Owen, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Reba, Vince Gill, Garth Brooks and Charlie Daniels, among others. For more Continue reading Keith Urban Announced As 2016 CRS Artist Humanitarian Award Recipient

Jon Langston Releases Self-Titled EP Friday, December 11

Jon Langston Releases Self-Titled EP: Launches Video for “Rollin In Rockin Out” With Sounds Like Nashville Nashville- (Dec. 10, 2015) – KP Entertainment (Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell) announced today independent recording artist Jon Langston will digitally release a five-song, self-titled EP tomorrow. Jon recently debuted the EP’s “Rollin In Rockin Out” song with a high energy, live performance video, premiering on Sounds Like Nashville. Watch it here: [youtube FAsQ4nOJgO4] “Rollin In Rockin Out” was written by Jon, Monty Criswell and Jody Stevens. “This song was probably one of the funnest songs I’ve ever written. It brings that ‘life of the party’ feel every time I hear it.”   The Georgia native grew up playing music but traded his guitar for football in middle school, only to trade it back after suffering numerous concussions by his junior year in college. Jon moved to Nashville in 2014 to continue to pursue his musical dreams landing a publishing deal at Sony ATV.  He enjoys a strong following in his home state and core fans throughout the southeast and just wrapped his fall/winter tour selling out the 20+ shows, including the acclaimed Georgia Theater in Athens.  Jon Langston self-titled EP track listing: “Rollin In Rockin Out” – Jon Langston/Monty Criswell/Jody Stevens “Southern Drawl”– Rhett Akins/Jon Nite/Ross Copperman “Cigarettes And Me”– Jon Langston/Monty Criswell/Dan Isbell “In My Mind”  – Jon Langston/Rhett Akins/Murphy Elmore “Forever Girl” – Jon Langston  KP Entertainment’s artist roster includes Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell, Kelleigh Bannen, DJ Rock, CB30, Jon Langston, and Chancie Neal. The company also operates a publishing arm of Peanut Creek Music, a joint venture with Sony/ATV, as well as a partnership with Kobalt Music Publishing representing songwriter Mike Mobley. Additionally, KP Entertainment has partnered with Fly Hi Productions and operates the management of Luke Bryan’s “Farm Tour.”  

Charley Pride to Receive Master Award at the 3rd Annual Ameripolitan Music Awards

Charley Pride to Receive Master Award at 3rd Annual Ameripolitan Music Awards   (Austin, TX) – The 3rd Annual Ameripolitan Music Awards will be held Tuesday, February 16th, 8:00 pm at the historic Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Avenue in downtown Austin, Texas with music legend and past Ameripolitan winner Ray Benson as host. Charley Pride (Master Award) will join Wanda Jackson (Founder of the Sound) and Red Simpson (Founder of the Sound) as special award recipients. Tickets are available at austintheatre.org, the Paramount Theatre box office, and by phone at (512) 474-1221.   “Charley Pride is the first living male to ever receive the Ameripolitan Masters Award, preceded only by the amazing Ray Price, who was instrumental in creating the awards,” exclaims Dale Watson, founder of the Ameripolitan Awards. “Charley Pride’s music spans several generations, blazed new trails, and has never compromised his roots. This makes him perfect for the highest honor we can bestow, the Ameripolitan Master Award.” Celebrity presenters include Mike Wolfe of American Pickers and Todd and Don of KLBJ-AM with Sirius XM’s Dallas Wayne jumping into the announcer’s seat for another year.  Artists slated to perform at this year’s ceremony include Charley Pride, Wanda Jackson, Red Simpson, Billy Joe Shaver, James Hand, Doyle and Debbie, Georgette Jones, Justin Trevino, Rosie Flores, Whitey Morgan, Kim Lenz, Charlie Thompson, The Country Side of Harmonica Sam, Jason Roberts, Unknown Hinson, and other special guests. Voting online or by app is available now through December 26, 2015. Winners will be announced live during the 3rd Annual Ameripolitan Music Awards on Tuesday, February 16, 2016. Fans may vote in the following categories: Honky Tonk – Female, Male, Group; Western Swing – Female, Male, Group; Rockabilly – Female, Male, Group; Outlaw – Female, Male, Group; Ameripolitan DJ; Ameripolitan Venue; Ameripolitan Festival; and Ameripolitan Musician. A full list of nominees can be found here. Designed by Ballot Blaster, the ‘Ameripolitan 2016’ app is available for purchase ($1.99) with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Fender Music Foundation, which aims to keep music education alive and available in our nation’s schools and communities. Fans may also vote online beginning November 26th without purchasing the app at Ameripolitan.com. Only one vote is permitted, per valid email address.  Tickets to the 3rd Annual Ameripolitan Awards are available at www.austintheatre.org. For updates and breaking news, please visit Ameripolitan.com as well as the Ameripolitan Awards social networks on TWITTER and FACEBOOK.  Sponsors: The event is made possible by the generous sponsorship of presenting sponsor, Lone Star and co-sponsor, Fender. About Ameripolitan Music Awards: The Ameripolitan Music Awards, a 501(c)3, was created under the leadership of Texas Honky Tonk legend, Dale Watson, to acknowledge the exceptional creativity and dedication of roots artists whose work does not readily conform to the tastes of today’s “Country”, or other music genres and organizations. Ameripolitan Music LLC and The Ameripolitan Music Awards were founded to benefit and acknowledge these artists. It also provides fans with a means of finding these artists and their Continue reading Charley Pride to Receive Master Award at the 3rd Annual Ameripolitan Music Awards