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TRAVIS TRITT’s A MAN AND HIS GUITAR – LIVE FROM THE FRANKLIN THEATRE 2-DISC CD SET NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

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Travis Tritt on Country Music News Blog

Travis Tritt’s forthcoming live 2-disc CD, A Man and His Guitar – Live From The Franklin Theatre, is now available for pre-order through iTunes; officially to be released ‪on Nov. 18.  The much-anticipated release, recorded at the historic Franklin Theatre in Franklin, Tenn., spotlights Tritt’s distinctively soulful voice and his exceptional guitar prowess in an intimate theater setting. The project features Tritt at his best; performing an unplugged solo concert that gives fans the rare opportunity to hear a fresh take on some of Tritt’s biggest hits, including “Help Me Hold On,” “Anymore,” and “Best of Intentions,” in a stripped down, pure form. Previously unreleased renditions of “Come And Go Blues” and “Pickin’ At It” are also included in the program. Tritt’s discovery that an audience loved to hear him perform songs accompanied only by his guitar served as the inspiration behind the project. In this concert, Tritt acknowledges and pays tribute to artists he grew up admiring and those that were influential to him as he punctuates the release with personal stories and anecdotes from his long career.   Select acoustic numbers and humorous moments between Tritt and his guests, Marty Stuart and James Otto, are also highlighted. The 2-disc CD set, A Man and His Guitar – Live From The Franklin Theatre, will be available for purchase through major digital retailers, TravisTritt.com and at various stops throughout Tritt’s tour.  The DVD will only be available at TravisTritt.com and on tour. For a list of forthcoming tour stops, please visit www.TravisTritt.com. For more information on Travis Tritt, visit his website TravisTritt.com and follow him on and Facebook and Twitter. Disc 1 1. “It’s All About The Money” (Donny Kees, Jody Harris) 2. “Where Corn Don’t Grow” (Mark Alan Springer, Roger Murrah) 3. “The Pressure Is On” (Hank Williams, Jr.) 4. “I’m Gonna Be Somebody” (Jill Colucci, Stewart Harris) 5. “Lord Have Mercy On The Working Man” [with James Otto] (Kostas) 6. “Country Club” (Catesby Jones, Dennis Lord) 7. “Country Ain’t Country” (Carson Chamberlain, Casey Beatherd, Teresa Boaz) 8. “500 Miles Away From Home” (Bobby Bare, Charles Williams, Hedy West) 9. “Here’s A Quarter” (Travis Tritt) 10. “Best of Intentions” (Travis Tritt) 11. “Drift Off To Dream” (Travis Tritt, Stewart Harris) 12. “Help Me Hold On” (Travis Tritt, Pat Terry) Disc 2 1. “Whiskey Ain’t Workin’” [with Marty Stuart] (Ronny Scaife, Marty Stuart) 2. “Pickin’ At It” [with Marty Stuart] (Travis Tritt) 3. “Come And Go Blues” (Gregg Allman) 4. “Anymore” (Travis Tritt, Jill Colucci) 5. “I Walk the Line” (Johnny Cash) 6. “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” (Waylon Jennings) 7. “A Long Time Ago” (Waylon Jennings, Shel Silverstein) 8. “Mama’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grown Up To Be Cowboys” (Patsy Bruce, Ed Bruce) 9. “Lone Wolf” (Hank Williams, Jr.) 10. “It’s A Great Day To Be Alive” (Darrell Scott) 11. “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” (Jerry Chestnut) 12.  “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde” (Walt Aldridge, James LeBlanc) Tweet Cheat: .@Travistritt announes pre-order for 2-Disc CD/DVD A Man and His Guitar – Live from The Franklin Theatre. Hashtags: #AManAndHisGuitar #FranklinTheatre  

Country Music By The Numbers From Neilsen

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Dialed up CMA insight by Neilsen

With the CMA’s today, Nielsen Entertainment has released a new report providing key insights around Country Music and its fans. The report discusses consumption channels and formats, as well as the stars of the industry and their endorsement and marketing potential. Take a look below and you’ll see that Nielsen’s report has some unique insights, from the crossover appeal of the industry’s talent, to the fans themselves.  

Brantley Gilbert World Premieres "The Weekend" on CMT "Hot 20"

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Brantley Gilbert on Country Music News Blog

Brantley Gilbert World Premieres “The Weekend” on CMT  Top 20 Countdown Debuts Lead Track from The Devil Don’t Sleep Nashville, TN: Having just sold out two night’s at Denver’s legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater, as well as key amphitheaters in the heartland including 14,806 at Detroit’s DTE Energy Music Theatre and 15,038 at Cincinnati’s Riverbend Amphitheater, the wildly intense Brantley Gilbert gears up for the release of The Devil Don’t Sleep with a World Premiere of “The Weekend” on CMT: Country Music Television’s “Hot 20” this weekend Oct. 29-30. “We’re getting ready for the next phase,” says one of the rare country artists with back-to-back certified platinum releases for his Halfway To Heaven and Just As I Am. “There’s new music coming, in a very different way than people expect from us. But one thing we’re not gonna lose is the real life – and some of the real fun you can have – in this music. That’s what I love about this clip: it’s a lot of pieces of who I am.” Starting with Gilbert trying, badly, to fix an old Cougar – and needing to abandon the job to get on the bus, the Shane Drake-directed clip captures Gilbert out on this summer’s sold-out Take It Outside Tour, his dynamic with his lovely wife Amber, dealing with frustration, tearing it up with the band in an all-terrain vehicle rich and finding a party he can both crash and loosen up. Admitting to his new friends he’s a lousy mechanic, longtime collaborator Drake creates a surprise ending that’s not so far from the truth. “This isn’t that far off,” admits the man whose launched six #1s including the CMA Single of the Year nominee “Dirt Road Anthem,” as well his own “Country Must Be Country Wide,” “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do” and One Hell of an Amen” among others. “I’m not a great mechanic… and I do love that old Cougar and my wife. To mix it all up like this, and kinda make it about what every guy wants and get frustrated about? Well, that’s pretty much here.” With the heavy guitar thumper “It’s About To Get Dirty” featured in “Madden 17,” the latest in the series of high impact football video games, the Georgia native is keeping a strong emphasis on keeping the hard rock in his country for his upcoming project – due in early 2017. Working like twin engines, “The Weekend” reinforces the real world good time out in the sticks ethos that has defined the “Bottoms Up” artist since he released his first self-financed Modern Day Prodigal Son just out of his teens. “Boys get older, but not much changes,” he says with a laugh. “I was raised to work hard, but we also learned to play hard. You know, that’s the deal… When you give it all, you wanna take it back just as hard when you clock out. And if you’re not having fun, you’re not all in with your life, you’re Continue reading Brantley Gilbert World Premieres "The Weekend" on CMT "Hot 20"→

Cole Swindell Wraps First Weekend of Headlining Sold-Out Shows on “CMT ON TOUR Presents the COLE SWINDELL DOWN HOME TOUR”

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Cole Swindell on Country Music News Blog

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  –-Platinum-selling recording artist just wrapped the first weekend of his headlining CMT ON TOUR Presents the COLE SWINDELL DOWN HOME TOUR with sold-out shows. The tour kicked off last week with fans packing a sold-out Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, OK and continued to Wichita, KS, Denver, CO, and Odessa, TX. Swindell takes a brief detour back to Nashville this week for the 50th Annual CMA Awards where he is nominated for CMA New Artist of the Year. The Down Home Tour will continue Friday (Nov 4) at the Lyric Oxford in Oxford, MS. Following two previous sold-out Down Home tours, Swindell looks forward to this time of the year when he releases new fan-favorite music, and in tandem returning to some of the clubs, venues and fans that gave him his start in touring. “Taking care of the people who take care of you,” Swindell told CMT.com, “that’s how I was raised and how I like to do things. We wouldn’t be where we are without people loving our music.” Down Home Sessions III, the brand new collection of music for his fans, was just released in support of his annual fan-favorite Down Home Tour. The EP, Down Home Sessions III, is available digitally via Warner Bros. / Warner Music Nashville. Click HERE to purchase the Down Home Sessions III EP. Down Home Sessions III Track Listing: 1)         You’ve Got My Number 2)         Does It Hurt 3)         Six Pack Lines 4)         Chevrolet DJ 5)         Wildlife This year, Swindell has partnered with CMT to launch his third annual Down Home Tour with CMT ON TOUR Presents the COLE SWINDELL DOWN HOME TOUR. Following two previous sold-out tours, the third annual headlining tour kicked off this last week at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, OK and will wrap in December. The tour features openers and rising new artists Cole Taylor, Travis Denning and Jon Langston. For complete information on tickets and the tour, sign up for the Down Home Crew at www.ColeSwindell.com, and follow the fun on social using #CMTonTour. Click HERE for Cole Swindell’s Down Home Sessions Playlist. The partnership marks the 15th annual tour for CMT, which has been a springboard for a number of country superstars. CMT On Tour launched in 2002, and has featured superstar headliners including Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Keith Urban, Jake Owen, Kip Moore, Brett Eldredge and Thomas Rhett. The tour is produced by Live Nation. CMT ON TOUR Presents the COLE SWINDELL DOWN HOME TOUR: Nov 4              Oxford, MS                             The Lyric Oxford** Nov 9              New York, NY                         Terminal 5** Nov 10            Pittsburgh, PA                         Stage AE** Nov 11            Norfolk, VA                              The Norva** Nov 12            Silver Spring, MD                    The Fillmore Silver Spring** Nov 17            Fort Walton, FL                       The Block^ Nov 18            Lake Buena Vista, FL             House of Blues^ Nov 25            Houston, TX                            House of Blues** Nov 26            Fort Worth, TX                        Billy Bob’s Texas** Nov 30            Rosemont, IL                          Joe’s Live** Dec 1              Continue reading Cole Swindell Wraps First Weekend of Headlining Sold-Out Shows on “CMT ON TOUR Presents the COLE SWINDELL DOWN HOME TOUR”→

Tune-In Alert! Aaron Lewis Performs On The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (11/2)

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Outspoken Entertainer to Appear on CBS Late Night Following the CMA Awards ________________________________________________________________ Show: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert   Date: Wednesday, November 2 Time:  11:35pm ET / 10:35pm CT Network: CBS (Check local listings) ________________________________________________________________ NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 31, 2016) – While Nashville celebrates the CMA Awards, outspoken and sometimes controversial singer/songwriter Aaron Lewis will make his debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert  Wednesday (11/2) at 11:35pm ET / 10:35pm CT on CBS (check local listings). Singing a hit from his recent No. 1 album SINNER, Lewis will once again show why traditional Country still has a place in the mainstream. “I grew up listening to the Country greats – Willie, Merle and Waylon” said Lewis. “When turn on the radio in my car, I don’t even recognize what is now considered ‘Country’ music. So it was important to me when making this new album that I was true to myself and what I believe is good music. My mouth often gets me in trouble when I express this opinion, but it’s the truth.” Lewis recently kicked off his SINNER TOUR in LA with a sold-out show at The Troubadour and continues to make its run on the West Coast this week. He will head to New York City on November 15 for a special headlining date at The Beacon Theater for Budweiser One Night Only: Aaron Lewis. For additional information and dates, visit AaronLewisMusic.com.  

Tune-In Alert! Justin Moore Merges Comedy & Country On Jimmy Kimmel Live! (11/2)

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New Single “Somebody Else Will” Climbing Radio Charts Show: Jimmy Kimmel Live! Date: Wednesday, November 2 Time: 11:35pm ET / 10:35pm CT Network: ABC (Check local listings) NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 31, 2016) – Chart-topping Country crooner Justin Moore will show off his comedic chops once again during a special appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! this Wednesday (11/2) at 11:35pm ET / 10:35pm CT on ABC (check local listings). Directly following the CMA Awards, the Platinum-selling singer will offer up a light-hearted new tune for the late night audience. Moore previously gave a hilarious reading of Drake’s “Hotline Bling” for KNIX-FM with his signature Southern drawl eliciting over 18 million views. Watch it here. As fans clamor to hear new music, Moore’s new single “Somebody Else Will” was recently introduced to Country radio and is already creating major buzz with Taste of Country saying “Expect this song to be his biggest hit since ‘Point at You.’” This is the follow-up to his sixth No. 1 “You Look Like I Need a Drink,” which recently ascended to the top of both the Mediabase and Billboard charts, as the lead single from his fourth album KINDA DON’T CARE. Moore will kick off his co-headlining AMERICAN MADE TOUR with Lee Brice at the beginning of 2017 with opening acts William Michael Morgan and Brett Young joining for the 25 dates already on the books. For tickets, tour dates and additional information visit JustinMooreMusic.com.  

Chesney’s President’s & Pinnacle Awards + 2 Wks @ #1 w P!NK

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Kenny Chesney on Country Music News

Chesney Honored With BMI’s President’s Award Nov. 1 + the CMA’s Pinnacle Award Nov. 2   “Setting The World on Fire” Scores Second-Week Mediabase, Fourth-Week Billboard Hot Country No. 1 Nashville, Tenn. —  Kenny Chesney came to Nashville fresh out of college with a headful of dreams and a fistful of songs. He didn’t know how his adventure was going to turn out, but he intended to put his whole heart into it. Along the way, he released 17 albums, has now scored 29 No. 1s, played 135 stadiums and became the only country act on Billboard’s Top 10 Touring Acts of the Last 25 Years, helping break a lot of today’s headliners along the way. Recognizing the impact the man who released Cosmic Hallelujah on Friday has had on creativity in American pop music, both the Country Music Association and BMI are honoring his mark – creatively, and beyond – with the Pinnacle and President’s Award respectively. The Pinnacle Award has been given only twice; the President’s Award — presented across genres —  includes pop, rock, hip-hop and Latin songwriters. “These honors are a little hard to get my head around,” says Chesney. “I do what I do – keep trying to make better music, play better shows. To me, if you’re committed to songs, you’re always trying to grow and learn and figuring stuff out. It’s why every album I release, I try to keep clearing the bar the last one set – and it’s hard.” Chesney’s compulsion to always create better music that hits his audience – deemed the No Shoes Nation – in the heart has resulted in “Setting The World on Fire,” his in-the-moment-plunge-into-love song with P!NK having its second week at No. 1 on the Mediabase chart and fourth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, which measures airplay, streams and downloads. “Fire” is also hovering outside the Top 20 on Hot AC. With appearances on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “Today,” “The Talk” and “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” the East Tennessee songwriter/superstar’s latest has been garnering a glowing critical response. USA Today proclaimed, “Chesney goes ‘deeper’ on new album,” while The New York Times enthused Cosmic Hallelujah is “a long, long way from Mr. Chesney’s typical arena-country ballads  about rural pleasures and island getaways” and NPR cited it for “folk’s storytelling, soul’s honesty and gospel’s spirit.” Newsday raved, “The result will fit nicely between ‘Friends in Low Places’ and ‘Keep Your Hands To Yourself.’ In other words, country perfection.” “There’s nothing better than getting new music to the fans,” Chesney says. “It’s what this whole journey was built on. From the time ‘The Tin Man’ got me signed to Acuff Rose Music and then Capricorn Records by Phil Walden, who didn’t even do country music – singing songs that showed how people like me lived has been the reason I’ve chased this dream. This week, it’s like it’s coming true in some ways… But you know me, there’s always more to Continue reading Chesney’s President’s & Pinnacle Awards + 2 Wks @ #1 w P!NK→

SOURCE was honored to have members of The Ryman Auditorium as guest speakers during 10/27 luncheon at ASCAP

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SOURCE–the Nashville music industry executive women’s organization–was honored to have Sally Williams, General Manager of The Ryman Auditorium along with two additional Ryman staff members, Lisaann Dupont, and Joshua Bronnenberg as guest speakers and panel at their October 27 luncheon at ASCAP. A short narrative film and historical retrospective of the life and work of Lula C. Naff, America’s “first lady” of theater management was shared with members followed by a Q & A.   Lula C. Naff‘s business and booking saavy brought respect and prestige to both the Ryman Auditorium and the city of Nashville. Legendary entertainers of stage and screen ranging from Katherine Hepburn to Harry Houdini, Ziegfeld Follies, Bob Hope, and political debates kept the building thriving for more than fifty years under Mrs. Naff’s guidance.  Visit http://ryman.com/history/lula-c-naff for Ryman tours. Founded in 1991, SOURCE is a nonprofit organization supporting women executives and professionals who work in all facets of the Nashville music industry. In 2003, the annual SOURCE Awards were established to pay respect to and honor the women who helped develop and build upon the foundation of the music industry in Nashville. SOURCE also pays tribute to women who presently make major contributions with their work in the industry.  

Hunter Hayes Stacks CMA Awards Week With Multiple Performances on National Television

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Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist tapped to perform the national anthem live on FOX during Game Six of the World Series on Tuesday, Nov. 1 prior to debuting his new single, “Yesterday’s Song,” on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Wednesday, Nov. 2 NASHVILLE, Tenn.  – CMA Award-winning artist and five-time GRAMMY nominee Hunter Hayes will be making several appearances on national television in the days leading up to the 50th Annual CMA Awards this week, kicking off last night with a lively duet with Jake Owen on ABC’s eighth annual pre-CMA Awards special All Access Nashville: Celebrating the CMA Awards with Robin Roberts and continuing tonight, Nov. 1 with a performance of the national anthem during Game Six of the 2016 World Series airing at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX. As previously announced, Hayes will also debut his new single, “Yesterday’s Song,” via a special hologram performance from the CMA Theater in Nashville on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live at 11:35 / 10:35 p.m. CT following the CMA Awards telecast on Wednesday, Nov. 2. Watch a clip of Hayes and Owen performing “Friends In Low Places” during last night’s television special here. Hayes is currently working on his third studio album for Atlantic / Warner Music Nashville and continues to perform select headlining dates across the country. For more information and the latest updates, visit www.hunterhayes.com or follow on Twitter/Instagram @HunterHayes and www.Facebook.com/HunterHayes. About Hunter Hayes Hailed as a “country-rock-blues guitar hero in the making” by the Los Angeles Times, five-time GRAMMY nominee Hunter Hayes is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who roared onto the music scene with his double-Platinum-selling, No. 1 self-titled debut album and chart-topping sophomore album, Storyline, on Atlantic / Warner Music Nashville. With three No. 1 singles already under his belt (including the multi-Platinum smash “Wanted,” double-Platinum “I Want Crazy” and “Somebody’s Heartbreak”), and Hayes delved into unprecedented territory with the innovative rollout of new music via streaming and digital platforms in 2015, culminating in the release of a special, three-disc collection dubbed The 21 Project. While recording for his forthcoming third full-length studio album, Hayes surprised fans by releasing three new songs via social media (“Yesterday’s Song,” “Amen” and “Young Blood”) and his new single, “Yesterday’s Song,” is currently available at digital retailers and Country radio.  

LITTLE BIG TOWN ANNOUNCE FIRST EVER RYMAN RESIDENCY: “LITTLE BIG TOWN AT THE MOTHER CHURCH”

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“LITTLE BIG TOWN AT THE MOTHER CHURCH” Iconic Venue Heading Into Quasquicentennial Celebrations NASHVILLE, TN (NOV. 1, 2016) –From the stage of Nashville’s iconic Ryman Auditorium, Little Big Town, along with Nashville Mayor Megan Barry and Ryman Auditorium General Manager Sally Williams, announced this morning their upcoming “Little Big Town at the Mother Church” residency.  The first ever Ryman residency, slated for six nights in 2017, will kick-off on February 24 during Country Radio Seminar week.  The date will coincide with the release of the Grammy-winning band’s seventh studio album entitled, The Breaker.  Additional dates scheduled for the residency are February 25, May 19 & 20 and September 15 & 16. The opener for the February 24 show will be Brent Cobb and February 25 will be Ashley Monroe. Tickets and special two-day packages for all shows will go on sale Friday, November 4 at 10:00 a.m.via ticketmaster.com and ryman.com and will be available online only. Tickets for the concerts will be $90.50, $60.50 and $50.50. Each ticket purchased to see Little Big Town at the Ryman includes one (1) physical album of Little Big Town’s new album, The Breaker, scheduled to be released on February 24, 2017. Also on Friday, CID Entertainment will offer additional VIP experiences. For full details, visit bit.ly/2e5PIws. “Little Big Town at the Mother Church” will see the Grand Ole Opry members return to the historic Ryman, where they first graced the storied stage in 2005.  Each of the six shows will feature different support acts and surprise special guests.  Known for their progressive partnerships, expect the unexpected from these upcoming shows. With no other headlining tour currently scheduled, “Little Big Town at the Mother Church” will account for a large portion of the foursome’s touring plans in North America in 2017. These limited live dates are not to be missed.  “As musicians, there is no better feeling in the world than playing on the stage at the Ryman,” said Little Big Town’s Jimi Westbrook.  “To be given the opportunity to headline their first residency means so much to us as a band and we promise to make each night as memorable for the fans as possible.” “To launch our 125th-anniversary celebration we wanted to do something new – a Ryman residency,” said Williams. “Little Big Town consistently bring to the table fresh, exciting creations. ‘Little Big Town at the Mother Church’ will be no exception.  We’re honored to celebrate this major milestone with them and to cement their place in Ryman history moving forward.” In addition to the residency, Little Big Town announced the release of their seventh studio album, The Breaker (Capitol Records Nashville), available in stores February 24.  The album, produced by Jay Joyce, features lead single, “Better Man,” written by Taylor Swift, and is currently climbing the charts at radio. The video for “Better Man,” directed by Becky Fluke and Reid Long, premieres worldwide today.  To view the video click here: http://vevo.ly/2JlWhh. “The Breaker is about letting go of things that break you, it’s about the new Continue reading LITTLE BIG TOWN ANNOUNCE FIRST EVER RYMAN RESIDENCY: “LITTLE BIG TOWN AT THE MOTHER CHURCH”→