Press Releases – Page 43 – Country Music News

Thomas Rhett Makes #1 With “Craving You”

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Congratulations to VALORY MUSIC CO. artist THOMAS RHETT for scoring the #1 spot on the MEDIABASE Country singles chart this WEEK with “Craving You” featuring COLUMBIA NASHVILLE’s MAREN MORRIS. “Craving You” is RHETT’s eighth career #1 single. Kudos to VALORY MUSIC CO. GM GEORGE BRINER, Dir./National Promotion ASHLEY SIDOTI, Dir./WEST COAST Promotion AMY STALEY, Dir./SOUTHWEST Promotion BRAD HOWELL, Dir./NORTHEAST Promotion DON GOSSELIN, Dir./MIDWEST Promotion ADAM BURNES, Dir./SOUTHEAST Promotion BROOKE NIXON, Promotion Analyst SEAN STEVENS and Promotion Coordinator LAUREN SIMON. ALL ACCESS delivered sweet treats to the VALORY MUSIC CO. staff TODAY (7/10) to congratulate the staff on its success.

Now Casting In Nashville: Soon-to-be-wed Couples!

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Hot off the press at CountryMusicNewsBlog.com!

*CountryMusicNewsBlog has no affiliation with Doron Ofir Casting or Popular Productions, Inc, we are simply sharing an opportunity for those who might be interested. Please direct all inquiries to the contact form found at doronofircasting.com. Doron Ofir Casting and 495 Productions are currently seeking soon-to-be-wed couples and their wedding parties to be a part of a new television phenomenon; LAST BASH IN NASH – the most exclusive weekend of events, adventure and experiences only for Bachelor and Bachelorette parties. Pick your crew, gather your squad and pack your bags for 48 hours of exclusive events and parties. Explore Nashville TN, and make a lifetime of memories with your best friends over one EPIC weekend! We are casting nationwide for the hottest girl and guy groups, together or separate, who are at least 21 years old and worthy of the ultimate VIP celebration experience. We HELP YOU plan SO you CAN party! A better way to bachelor(ette) WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS FROM LUXURY PAMPERING TO BLOWOUT BASHES, ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT. Celebrating the bride & groom WITH a destination weekend in the heart of “Music City!” Apply now at www.lastbashcasting.com Popular Productions, inc. We are a full service casting and development company with nationwide casting and production contacts. Numerous worldwide network and cable television programs. Producing partners, branding and packaging deals. Independent Films, Commercials, Music Videos, Internet, Broadband, Mobile content and Studio Films. This is a digital casting call for the opportunity to audition directly to producers. If you are interested in any of our other current television casting opportunities they can be found on our main casting site doronofircasting.com . Doron Ofir Casting is a legitimate television casting company and our credits can be found on IMDB. We never charge for casting EVER!

Academy of Country Music Announces ACM Studio Recording Award Winners

Posted on June 30, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

The Academy of Country Music® announced the Studio Recording Award winners for the 52ND ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™. The Studio Recording Award winners will be honored during the 11th ANNUAL ACM HONORS™, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards. The event will take place Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. The Studio Recording Awards are voted on by professional members of the Academy classified in the Artist-Entertainer/Musician-Bandleader-Instrumentalist category, and the Producer-Engineer-Studio Manager sub-category (contained within the Affiliated category). The categories honor the behind-the-scenes musicians, producers, engineers and industry professionals who contribute so much to the artistry, success and longevity of country music. Below is a complete list of the Studio Recording Award winners for the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards: STUDIO RECORDING AWARD WINNERS: (Note: ** Indicates a tie.) BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Glenn Worf DRUMMER OF THE YEAR – Miles McPherson GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Tom Bukovac & Danny Rader** PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Dave Cohen SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Dan Dugmore STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Dan Dugmore AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR – Chuck Ainlay PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – Jay Joyce

Hunter Hayes and Zappos Team Up For “Rescue” Charity

Posted on June 30, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Hunter Hayes released his first new music of 2017 today with the soaring and electric guitar-driven track “Rescue.” An artist who has always stressed the importance of helping others through the power of music, Hayes has also partnered with Zappos.com to create shoes that give back. “The Rescue Collection” is a limited line that features artwork inspired by the song’s accompanying music video, which is also available everywhere today. Hayes shared an exclusive behind-the-scenes look with Entertainment Tonight this morning and also went into in-depth detail about the song’s inspiration with The Washington Post. “I’ve always loved what music and charity organizations can do together, and I think the tie in with this song is undeniable,” said Hayes. “We’ve had the opportunity to work with so many awesome charities over the years and I realized that, to me, they are exactly that: rescues. They are places of refuge for so many people who need a friend to help them through something or to be there for them. We’ve seen the power of music in so many ways and I wanted ‘Rescue’ to be a song that we used for good.” All profits from “The Rescue Collection” will be donated to Zappos for Good, the charity team at Zappos.com. These limited edition shoes will be available during the holiday season and benefit a number of charitable initiatives including the CMA Foundation, the charitable giving arm of the Country Music Association that’s focused on improving and sustaining music education programs everywhere, and Zappos’ annual Pawlidayz pet adoption drive. “We are thrilled about our partnership with Hunter and have been wowed by his sincere interest in helping the world to be a better place by using his music to inspire others. We are grateful to work with partners who share our values and commitment,” said Steven Bautista, Head of Charity at Zappos.com, known as Zappos for Good. The shoes will be available starting December 2017 exclusively on Zappos.com. All shoes will be accompanied by a digital download code for “Rescue” and a personalized lyric sheet from Hayes. Until then, fans can see Hayes perform “Rescue” and other new music live on tour throughout the summer, with full dates and details below. Hunter Hayes Summer Tour Dates Jul 01 – Provo, UT – Stadium of Fire America’s Freedom Festival Jul 04 – Houston, TX – Freedom Over Texas Jul 14 – Choctaw, MS – 68th Annual Choctaw Indian Fair Jul 15 – Baton Rouge, LA – Dixie Landin’ Summer Concert Series Jul 25 – Paso Robles, CA – California Mid-State Fair Jul 27 – Bethlehem, PA – Levitt Pavilion Steelstacks Jul 28 – Shelbyville, DE – The Freeman Stage at Bayside Jul 29 – Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park Aug 11 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz Aug 12 – North Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues Aug 17 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom Aug 18 – Jordan, NY – Kegs Canalside Event Center Aug 19 – Webster, MA – Indian Ranch Amphitheatre Aug 25 – Toledo, Continue reading Hunter Hayes and Zappos Team Up For “Rescue” Charity→

Josh Abbott Band Ready to Take on The World With New Album!

Posted on June 28, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

JOSH ABBOTT BAND TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM UNTIL MY VOICE GOES OUT ON AUGUST 18TH Listen to the first song “Texas Women, Tennessee Whiskey” HERE Josh Abbott Band will release their new album, Until My Voice Goes Out, on August 18th. Produced by Dwight Baker, Until My Voice Goes Out is a hopeful look into the future, a roll-up-the-sleeves-and-move-forward embrace of life and its potential. “This album is about appreciating the moment and your family and your friends, and living life the right way,” Abbott says. “It’s really all about finding clarity and focusing on what’s important.” As Josh Abbott Band moved into the final stages of work on Until My Voice Goes Out, lead singer Josh Abbott’s personal life took a couple significant twists that underscored where JAB finds itself professionally. Abbott’s father suffered a stroke while the album was being recorded, and Josh split his time between the studio and the hospital bedside, finishing all the lead vocals shortly before his dad passed away. Two months later, Josh welcomed his first child into the world. Those developments in the spring of 2017 nutshelled the circle of life, and in a way, that’s how Until My Voice Goes Out operates. As the band observes 10 years since recording its first single, “Taste,” Voice finds the seven-piece Texas ensemble ending one chapter and beginning another. Experiencing life at its fullest includes taking risks, and Josh Abbott Band does that successfully on the new album incorporating strings and a horn section for the first time. Arranger Rob Mathes – noted for his work with Tony Bennett, Sting and Bruce Springsteen – worked up a handful of mood-setting string preludes and added to JAB’s range. Mathes’ preludes became an important emotional glue for the project, and the titles that bookend the project – “An Appreciation of Life” and “Farewell Father” – helped bring a cohesiveness to the album and its back story. “Until My Voice Gives Out” is, after all, a song about embracing life lessons learned and using them to make a better future. Josh Abbott intends to do that in a way that supports his daughter, who arrived as JAB completed the album. The band is making a statement through the entire risk-taking album – about its continued growth and evolution as it moves forward, a decade after that first single gave Texas a taste of JAB’s brand of country. JAB’s last album ‘Front Row Seat’ debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Independent Albums chart and garnered high praise across the board. The band performed singles from the album on national television on both Jimmy Kimmel Live and Conan. Hailed as one of the top Texas country acts, Josh Abbott Band is renowned for heartfelt songwriting and traditional instrumentation. The independent band has accumulated over 68 million total streams, 15 million YouTube/VEVO views has over 1.5 million single sales and 200,000 album sales. Additionally, the band has sold over 1.2 million concert tickets the last two years. Josh Abbott Band is Continue reading Josh Abbott Band Ready to Take on The World With New Album!→

Kellie Pickler To Join All-Star Cast for PBS’ A Capitol Fourth!

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Joining the all-star line-up for the 37th annual edition of PBS’ A CAPITOL FOURTH, broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, are acclaimed country music singer and songwriter Kellie Pickler, Grammy-nominated gospel legend Yolanda Adams and Broadway star and two-time Tony Award nominee Laura Osnes (BANDSTAND). Pickler, the AMERICAN IDOL alum, DANCING WITH THE STARS champion, and star of the hit TV show I LOVE KELLIE PICKLER will perform “This Land is Your Land” and “Small Town Girl” from her Gold-certified debut album. Adams, one of gospel’s seminal voices, will perform “Battle Hymn of the Republic” with Patrick Lundy & The Ministers of Music. Osnes will be featured in a patriotic medley and will also perform alongside the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” and members of the Armed Forces carrying the State and Territorial Flags during the fireworks finale. A CAPITOL FOURTH airs on PBS Tuesday, July 4, 2017 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network. The program can also be heard live in stereo over NPR member stations nationwide. In addition, the concert will be live-streamed online on Facebook Live and http://www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth and available as Video on Demand for a limited time only, July 4 to July 18, 2017. Emmy Award-nominated actor and producer John Stamos (FULLER HOUSE, SCREAM QUEENS) will host A CAPITOL FOURTH, featuring performances by: soul men Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi of The Blues Brothers; iconic multi-platinum selling music legends The Beach Boys, with special guests John Stamos (drums) and Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath (vocals); legendary Motown stars The Four Tops; country music star and Grammy-nominated member of the Grand Ole Opry Trace Adkins; THE VOICE Season 12 winner Chris Blue; and multi-talented actress and singer Sofia Carson (DESCENDENTS 2); with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly. The program is a co-production of Michael Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C. Executive producer Michael Colbert has assembled an award-winning production team that features the top Hollywood talent behind some of television’s most prestigious entertainment awards shows including the GRAMMY AWARDS, COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, TONY AWARDS, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, and more. About Capital Concerts Capital Concerts is the production force behind two of television’s longest-running and highest-rated live programs commemorating America’s most important holidays. THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT, the nation’s tribute to our men and women in uniform, and A CAPITOL FOURTH, our country’s biggest birthday party, have become American traditions that have consistently ranked among the highest rated programs on PBS over the past decade. The holiday specials have been honored with over 80 awards including the New York Film Festival Award, the Telly Award, the Golden Cine Award, the Videographer Award, the National Education Association Award, the Aurora Award, the Christopher Award, the Communicator’s Award, the AXIEM Award, the Omni Award and the Writer’s Guild of America Award. Underwriters A CAPITOL FOURTH is made possible by Continue reading Kellie Pickler To Join All-Star Cast for PBS’ A Capitol Fourth!→

Brad Paisley’s Comedy Rodeo Announced for Netflix

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Brad Paisley Announces Netflix Comedy Special to Debut August 15 Brad Paisley’s Comedy Rodeo With Special Guests Nate Bargatze, John Heffron, Jon Reep, Sarah Tiana and Mike E. Winfield And Special Appearances by David Hasselhoff and Reba McEntire Nashville, TN (June 23, 2017) – Country music superstar Brad Paisley announced today, via his socials, that his Netflix one-hour comedy special, Brad Paisley’s Comedy Rodeo, will debut on August 15. The hilarious show includes special guests and fellow comedians Nate Bargatze, John Heffron, Jon Reep, Sarah Tiana and Mike E. Winfield. Actor David Hasselhoff and multi-talented Reba McEntire make special appearances. The show was filmed earlier this year when Paisley hosted two comedy shows at Zanies Comedy Club in Nashville as part of the Wild West Comedy Festival.

Bobby Bare Gets Sirius XM Special Celebrating Him As One Of Country Music’s Top 100 Artists of All Time!

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

BOBBY BARE CELEBRATED AS ONE OF ‘100 GREATEST COUNTRY ARTISTS OF ALL TIME’ BY ROLLING STONE, FEATURED WITH MAJOR SIRIUS XM SPECIAL NEW ALBUM, THINGS CHANGE, SPOTLIGHTED ON POPULAR SPOTIFY PLAYLIST AND CMT.COM SXM Willie’s Roadhouse, SXM Outlaw Country, Spotify’s New Traditions – Country Heroes and CMT’s Tim Ghianni Celebrate the Music of Bare’s “Things Change” NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 26, 2017) – Influencers and critics agree, “Bobby Bare’s Outlaw Spirit Remains Undiminished” (Tim Ghianni, CMT.com) with the release of his newest album, Things Change. This past weekend saw a Bare takeover on Sirius XM with a subscriber-special airing numerous times on both Willie’s Roadhouse and Outlaw Country featuring performances by the legend and hosted by the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Peter Cooper from the SiriusXM Music City Theatre. Streaming giant Spotify added album cut “Ain’t No Sure Thing” to the popular New Traditions – Country Heroes playlist. Fans can hear the new music and add it to their own playlists on Bare’s Spotify page HERE. Rolling Stone honored Bobby Bare as one of the ‘100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time’ recently. The Country Music Hall of Famer and GRAMMY® winner was ranked number 43 on the list which also included many friends and collaborators including Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. Things Change features 10 tracks written by Bare and a slew of talented songwriters including Hoyt Axton, Mary Gauthier, Guy Clark and the producer of the project, hit singer/songwriter Max T. Barnes. The album features a collaboration on Bare’s iconic hit, “Detroit City,” with Chris Stapleton. The song was written by Mel Tillis and Danny Dill and was originally released by Bare in 1963 and would become one of his most highly requested songs at live shows to this day. “Detroit City” won a GRAMMY® in 1964 for Best Country/Western Recording and is one of many Grammy nods for the country legend. Things Change can be purchased at digital retailers and on BobbyBare.com. “In a career that has been marked with recordings from writers such as the afore-mentioned [Tom T.] Hall, Mel Tillis (‘Detroit City’) and the late Shel Silverstein (‘Marie Laveau,’ among many from the late tunesmith), Bare has always had a knack for finding a great song.” – Chuck Dauphin, Billboard Magazine “Bobby Bare has been one of country music’s most consistent – and most respected – singer/songwriters for over 50 years.” – Adrian Peel, Digital Journal About Bobby Bare Country Music Hall of Famer, Bobby Bare is one of the most iconic country artists of our time, with chart-topping songs like “Detroit City,” “500 Miles,” “Shame On Me” and many more. Artists from Little Jimmy Dickens and Hank Williams to big band acts like Phil Harris and the Dominoes all influenced his unique style leading to nearly five dozen top 40 hits from 1962 to 1983. The often referred to “Bruce Springsteen of Country” went on to earn multiple Grammy nominations and wins along with induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013 among many other awards and Continue reading Bobby Bare Gets Sirius XM Special Celebrating Him As One Of Country Music’s Top 100 Artists of All Time!→

Kenny Chesney Launches Belmont and Tennessee State University Scholarship Contest

Posted on June 23, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

When it was time for a video for Kenny Chesney’s “All The Pretty Girls,” from Cosmic Hallelujah, the man The Wall Street Journal called “The King of the Road” could’ve gone the usual route. But in thinking about the song’s spirit and his own wild college days, it dawned on him: take “All The Pretty Girls” to the people living it, and have them make the video. “The best moments of being young and having fun should be captured,” says the songwriter from East Tennessee. “But nobody ever talks to the people who are right in the moment of living it about this kind of thing. Rather than look back, we oughta just go to the people living it.” Knowing how many young people come to Tennessee trying to get close to the dream, Chesney decided to reach out to the students at Nashville’s Belmont and Middle Tennessee State Universities, both schools with strong engagement in the music industry and invite them to create his next music video. And the winning entry – chosen by a blue-ribbon panel from Sony Nashville, CMT: Country Music Television and Chesney’s team – will receive a $5000 scholarship, as well as having their video world premiere on CMT: Country Music Television. Any student at Belmont University or Middle Tennessee State University may submit a video they’ve created for the song. Lyric, live action, notion, animation or something we’ve never thought of. As Chesney says, “Get creative. Get real. Get inside the song, and show us how ‘All The Pretty Girls’ looks, feels, and resolves.” For Chesney, who world-debuted the John C. McGinley pre-ambled album cut “Rich & Miserable” on the SiriusXM platform, seeking different ways to consider video speaks to his desire to create innovation in how supporting music is done. Now he wants to engage young filmmakers, music lovers and communicators to offer both a scholarship and a platform for their work to be seen. “I remember driving over the state line to West Virginia, playing in a restaurant, breaking down, driving back and parking in the music store lot, so I could turn in the sound system and get to class,” Chesney says. “When you have a dream, you’ll do whatever it takes. I’d like to bring some college students a little bit closer than I got… and I can’t wait to see the creativity everyone brings to this song.” “All The Pretty Girls” is the latest single from Chesney’s No. 1 Cosmic Hallelujah. Belmont and MTSU students can click here: www.KennyChesneyAllThePrettyGirls.com. Contest deadline is July 23. Winner will be announced July 31. “I wanna help a student filmmaker with school,” Chesney says. “And I want to give people a chance to get creative this summer.”

DAVID GRAY & ALISON KRAUSS ANNOUNCE FALL 2017 U.S. CO-HEADLINING TOUR

Posted on June 19, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

David Gray and Alison Krauss on Country Music News!

21 CITY TOUR KICKS OFF SEPT. 18 IN HERSHEY, PA & INCLUDES SHOWS IN NEW YORK CITY (RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL, SEPT. 19), NASHVILLE (RYMAN, OCT. 1-2) & LOS ANGELES (GREEK THEATRE, OCT. 17) BEFORE ENDING IN BERKELEY, CA ON OCT. 19 Multi-Platinum artists Alison Krauss & David Gray will be touring together throughout the United States this fall. The 21 city, co-headlining tour kicks off on September 18 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and finishes up in Berkeley, California on October 19, including concerts at Radio City Music Hall in New York City (September 19), the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles (October 17), and two nights at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville (October 1-2). Ticketing information can be found at www.alisonkrauss.com and www.davidgray.com. ALISON KRAUSS Alison Krauss effortlessly bridges the gap between roots music and genres such as pop, rock, country and classical. She has released 14 albums and has sold more than 12 million records to date. With 27 wins, she is the most awarded female artist in GRAMMY history. Krauss recently released the critically acclaimed record Windy City, a collection of 10 classic country songs carefully selected with producer Buddy Cannon. Windy City debuted at #1 on the Country and Bluegrass Billboard charts. She has received a multitude of other honors throughout her career, including nine Country Music Association awards and 14 International Bluegrass Music Association awards. Alison has also contributed songs to numerous films, including O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Cold Mountain. Her 2007 platinum album Raising Sand with Robert Plant won six GRAMMY Awards including Album of the year, and was followed by 2011’s chart-topping, Paper Airplane with her longtime collaborators Union Station. DAVID GRAY David Gray has established himself as one of the UK’s leading artists both at home and overseas with a 25-year career marked by critical praise, numerous accolades and multi-platinum sales over the course of 10 album releases. The GRAMMY-nominated artist is known for his dynamic live shows and the energy behind his concerts exemplifies his deep and heartfelt music. David Gray’s latest studio album Mutineers, found the singer-songwriter steering into unfamiliar territory while cultivating a respectful relationship with his own history. The release was hailed by The Guardian, who declared that there is “a rare comfort in hearing an artist in pursuit of joy.” In 2016, David released a greatest hits collection entitled The Best of that included a re-recorded 25th Anniversary version of “Shine” and new tracks “Smoke Without Fire” and “Enter Lightly.” David promoted the album with a multi-city North American tour and a performance of his international hit “Babylon” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. David is currently in the studio recording a new album which is set for release in 2018. Tour Dates: September 18 – Hershey Theatre – Hershey, PA September 19 – Radio City Music Hall – New York, NY September 20 – The Mann Center for the Performing Arts – Philadelphia, PA September 22 – Blue Hills Bank Pavilion – Boston, MA September 23 – Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD September 24 – Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre – Cary, NC September 28 – St. Augustine Amphitheatre – St. Augustine, FL September 29 – Continue reading DAVID GRAY & ALISON KRAUSS ANNOUNCE FALL 2017 U.S. CO-HEADLINING TOUR→