Why Country Music Blogs Still Cover Taylor Swift

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Taylor Swift News and Tour information from Country Music News Blog

These days it seems that country music news sites can’t so much as MENTION Taylor Swift without a huge social media backlash of comments like “Taylor Swift abandoned her country fans!” and “Who cares? She’s pop music now“. This leaves us who cover the industry in a pickle. You see, while the songs she puts out are no longer what is widely accepted as country music, and she has done everything she can to distance herself and her career from the moral and social restraints that the Nashville crowd press upon young female artists, the fact of the matter is that the country music industry still heavily relies on artists like Taylor Swift to finance hundreds of other budding careers and an entire concert tour support system. At a current net worth of over $44MILLION, Taylor Swift’s every career move means money. According to Forbes, her 1989 tour run obliterated previous tour earning records earning a gross of around a quarter BILLION dollars. When you think about it, that’s a lot of jobs. Stage hands, dancers, security, support staff, even the 16 year old kid making corndogs in a stadium food court is benefiting by Taylor’s tour. [bctt tweet=”Why #CountryMusic still cares about @TaylorSwift13 and the #TS6 release. ” username=”My_CountryMusic”] Beyond that is the way that a flagship artist like Taylor can either make or break entire record labels. How many smaller artists on Big Machine Records would never have a PR team or a label advance if the label did not have a successful champion raking it in on the front end? Artists like Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore, and Thomas Rhett all get their tours, albums and publicity funded upfront by the artists that are raking it in ahead of them on the marquee like Taylor, Reba, Rascal Flatts, and Hank Jr. Flagship artists are the building blocks of a successful music economy, so the next time you think “who cares”, then answer with the name of the last artist you went to see and every person behind the scenes who’s job is more secure today than it was before the Taylor Swift Eclipse.

Blackberry Smoke Blows Away Late Show

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Blackberry Smoke and Aaron Lewis Tour Details

Blackberry Smoke takes over the “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” performing “Waiting For Thunder”. Falling somewhere between Zac Brown Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd, southern roots rockers Blackberry Smoke have held onto a quiet climb to success over the last few years, but recently have just broken into mainstream with their new album “Like An Arrow“, which includes a track that they were honored to record with the legendary Gregg Allman titled “Free On The Wing”. They appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last night to show off their newest single “Waiting for the Thunder” and you can watch their performance below: [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lizRCUzkg8c[/embedyt] Blackberry Smoke is currently on tour with country crossover Aaron Lewis.

Scotty McCreery Makes a Big Label Move

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Scotty McCreery on Country Music News Blog

SCOTTY McCREERY SIGNS WITH TRIPLE TIGERS RECORDS / SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT  McCreery Makes History as “Five More Minutes” is Highest Charting Song in  History Without a Record Label Triple Tigers Records announced today that the record label has signed multi-Platinum-selling entertainer Scotty McCreery to its roster. “We are very proud to represent Scotty McCreery,” said Triple Tigers Records General Manager Norbert Nix. “He is an absolute pro and an artist of great integrity. We were blown away when we heard ‘Five More Minutes’ and are looking forward to representing Scotty’s new music to his millions of fans.” “I’m very excited to become part of the Triple Tigers/Sony Music Entertainment family,” said McCreery. “They believe in me and my music, they work hard, and for being a brand new company, they are already succeeding. I am fired up to see what we can achieve together.” The ACM, BMI and CMT Award winner is currently rising up the charts with his emotional single, “Five More Minutes,” one of the most talked about songs of the year which has already earned more than 15 million streams. The song is currently #40 on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart and #46 on the Country Aircheck/Mediabase Chart. In its first week of release, it sold more than 22,000 paid downloads and earned the No. 6 spot on the Billboard Country Digital Sales Chart, his highest ranking on that chart since his debut single in 2011. “Five More Minutes” was released independently without a record label; instead it has been entirely marketed and promoted by McCreery and his Triple 8 Management team. Before signing today with Triple Tigers/Sony Music, McCreery made history. As verified by Country Aircheck, “Five More Minutes” is the first song released without a record label to ever chart on the Country Aircheck / Mediabase Top 50. “That’s awesome!” said a stunned McCreery.  “‘Five More Minutes’ is such a personal song for me and it feels like it’s become very personal for the radio listeners and concert audiences as well. To learn that it made chart history is mind-blowing. I’m proud of all the hard work that my team and I have done on our own, and I cannot wait to see what we are able to achieve working with my new family at Triple Tigers Records.” Written by McCreery, Frank Rogers and Monty Criswell, “Five More Minutes” is a both a nostalgic look back at several fond memories based on McCreery’s life as well as an impassioned plea to be able to spend five more minutes with his late grandfather, whose passing served as the inspiration for the song. Country Music Hall of Fame member Randy Travis said the song is “storytelling and country music at its best” on Twitter when “Five More Minutes” was released. People wrote that the “Five More Minutes” music video “is taking fans on an emotional walk down memory lane” when it debuted exclusively on the magazine’s website in June. Called “poignant” by Rolling Stone, the video features rarely-seen Continue reading Scotty McCreery Makes a Big Label Move→

Shania Twain Lands Silver Screen Debut

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Shania Twain on Country Music News Blog

Shania Twain scores her first Hollywood lead in the upcoming John Travolta racing film, Trading Paint. “It’s well know that dirt track racing is one of the most exciting sports in the world, and it’s also one of the most dangerous,” producer Andrea Iervolino told Variety about the project. “Our story is rooted in that high-speed danger, but also very much character driven.” This news comes on the back of a huge promotional push for Shania’s new album “Now” and certainly marks the songstress’s return to the limelight in a big way!

Brent Cobb and Ram Team Up for Documentary

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Brent Cobb News on Country Music News Blog

Brent Cobb is featured in “Long Live the Storytellers,” a new documentary-style video series created by Ram Trucks. The first episode in the series is premiering today at Rolling Stone Country. Watch HERE. Filmed in Nashville with Greg “Freddy” Camalier (Music Shoals), the series chronicles the process of creating Cobb’s new single “Ain’t A Road Too Long,” which will be released on September 15 on Low Country Sound/Elektra Records. While getting to know Cobb with this intimate look into his musical process, “Long Live the Storytellers” also features songwriting insights from the perspective of lauded music producers, musicians, and writers, including Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb and songwriter/musician Dan Penn. Brent explains, “[Being a part of Ram’s ‘Long Live the Storytellers’] campaign is important to me because I’ve been writing songs my whole life. I was born into it. Professionally, I’ve been making a living at it for over a decade and any breaks I’ve had along the way have been because of the songs I’ve written.” Adding, “It takes drive to stay on that road, figuratively as well as literally. The first truck I ever toured in was a Ram. We toured in it all over the country. A lot of artists before me had used the same truck, so by the time it got to us it had been rode hard. As hard as it had been rode, it still got us where we needed to go. Ram understands that drive.” ABOUT BRENT COBB Brent Cobb was born in Americus, Georgia about an hour east of Columbus, in the rural south-central part of the state. His breakthrough major label debut album, Shine On Rainy Day, was produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell) and was released in 2016 on Low Country Sound/Elektra Records. Since its release, the album has continued to garner overwhelming acclaim leading to a recent Americana Honors & Awards nomination for “Emerging Artist of the Year” as well as a break-out television debut on CONAN. After recently wrapping a sold-out European tour, Brent is currently in the midst of an extensive U.S. tour including over 35 dates as part of “Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show” as well as several shows with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill on their 2017 SOUL2SOUL Tour. In addition to his work as an artist, Brent is widely respected as a songwriter garnering cuts by Luke Bryan, The Oak Ridge Boys, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert and more. ABOUT RAM TRUCK BRAND Since its launch as a stand-alone division in 2009, the Ram Truck brand has steadily emerged as an industry leader with America’s longest-lasting line of pickups. Creating a distinct identity for Ram trucks has allowed the brand to concentrate on core customers and the features they find valuable. Whether focusing on a family that uses a Ram 1500 day-in and day-out, a hard-working Ram 3500 Heavy Duty owner or a business that depends on its Ram ProMaster commercial van every day for deliveries, Ram has the truck market covered. BRENT COBB CONFIRMED TOUR DATES August 17—Toronto, ON—Budweiser Stage* August 18—Cleveland, OH—Blossom Music Center* Continue reading Brent Cobb and Ram Team Up for Documentary→

Easton Corbin Welcomes Vets Home

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Easton Corbin and Ram Nation welcome vets home

Easton Corbin Helps RAM NATION Renovate Headquarters of Vets Returning Home Mercury Nashville recording artist Easton Corbin, an ardent supporter of the military and veteran organizations, spent Friday afternoon assisting members of Ram Nation as they helped renovate the courtyard at the headquarters of Vets Returning Home in Roseville, MI. Ram Nation is a grassroots volunteer corps of Ram owners who are ready to help communities. Vets Returning Home offers transitional services to veterans returning from conflict. After completing the courtyard renovation, Corbin met with the veterans and performed some of his hits including his current Top 30 single “A Girl Like You,” from his upcoming fourth studio album. Easton Corbin’s appearance was arranged by Ram Trucks as Corbin has partnered with Ram several times in recent years.

SCOOTER BROWN BAND RELEASES “AMERICAN SON”

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Scooter Brown Band News on Country Music News Blog

In the midst of a busy touring season tearing up the road across the U.S., Scooter Brown Band dropped an anthemic single today called “American Son,” featuring Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie Daniels. Nashville Country Club debuted the track earlier this week calling it “a gritty unapologetic track that has a rockin’ musical arrangement for the band’s Southern Rock appeal.” Fans can listen to the single on Spotify and Apple Music and purchase it on iTunes or Amazon. “American Son,” features none other than one of America’s truest sons, Charlie Daniels, a southern rock/country icon and American Patriot that Scooter Brown has looked up to his entire life and sought advice from often in recent years. The Country Music Hall of Famer contributes his gritty southern drawl to the track like only he can, driving it home as a true tribute to the working man. After a rousing Pledge of Allegiance from Brown, Daniels’ growls, We come from the farms and ranches // The oil-filled hands the ones who turn the wrenches We built these bridges and roads // The big rig drivers hauling the loads The mason, the cop, the coal-miner // The banker, the lawyer, the firefighters I’m the man in the shadows who carries a gun // I’m the sheepdog, the American Son Southern-rock revivalists, the Scooter Brown Band, have been on the road for the past few years playing for fans around the country with over 100 shows a year both headlining and opening for iconic acts like the Charlie Daniels Band, Travis Tritt, the Marshall Tucker Band and many more. About Scooter Brown Band After 4 years and 3 months, 2 tours overseas with 1 tour of combat in Iraq as a United States Marine, Scooter Brown traded his guns in for guitars and hit the road. The Scooter Brown Band was formed and began playing mainly in and around Houston, Texas. Along with their growing notoriety came their first radio single “Apology.” Other regional radio releases were soon to follow and include “Whiskey Talkin”, “Soldiers Christmas Eve”, “Feels Like Home,”, and “Summer Song”. The band has released a number of independent albums, strengthening their chops in the studio, however they truly shine in their live show. SBB has toured the country and opened for some of their biggest influences including  Charlie Daniels Band, Travis Tritt and the Marshall Tucker Band, just to name a few. For the last year the band has been building a new era in their career and are gearing up for the release of their newest project this Fall — defining modern southern rock. For more information, please visit scooterbrownband.com. To keep up with the Scooter Brown Band on social media, follow them at @scooterbrownbnd on Twitter & Instagram and on Facebook.

Debut Album from Russell Dickerson Due October 13th

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Russell Dickerson News on Country Music News Blog

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some fresh faces in country music, and that’s exactly what we’re getting with Russell Dickerson. Emerging Nashville-born country artist Russell Dickerson has revealed his debut album Yours, set for release on October 13th via Sony Music. The twelve-track LP comes hot off the back of his blistering headline performance at this year’s Nashville Meets London festival, as well as arena tours with Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini. The album is available for pre-order now HERE. The first single is fan-favourite and title track ‘Yours’. Described as a “humble love song that grows into a powerful wedding anthem” by Taste Of Country, the single is currently making its ascent on the US country radio charts. Penned by Dickerson, Brown and Parker Welling, ‘Yours’ has garnered over 40 million digital streams to date, where he’s been on Spotify’s Hot Country, Country Gold Playlists and more for over a year. The track is written for his wife, who also shot and produced the music video that now has more than 3 million views. [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFccdvKehQI[/embedyt] Produced by Casey Brown, the album will include popular tracks currently on his EP including ‘Blue Tacoma’, ‘MGNO’ and ‘Every Little Thing’, plus seven further cuts for followers to devour. All of the songs on Yours are co-written by Dickerson. Of the record, he says; “I’m beyond stoked to have my first full length album out and available for pre-order! The support from my fans is what has brought me this far. The Yours EP has changed my life and I cannot wait to see what the Yours album will bring!” It’s a summer of firsts for Dickerson. On the heels of his first national TV appearance on The Bachelorette, that aired on June 19th, he made his morning show debut taking his single ‘Yours’ to the Today show on July 10th. You can watch the full performance HERE. Since wrapping the Home Team Tour with Thomas Rhett in April, announcing that he will be a special guest on Florida Georgia Line’s Smooth Tour in September alongside Nelly and Chris Lane, and now, with his forthcoming full-length debut album, Dickerson is gearing up for his most massive moment yet. ‘YOURS’ TRACKLISTING Every Little Thing Yours Blue Tacoma Billions All Fall Down Float MGNO Would You Love Me Low Key You Look Like A Love Song Twentysomething Yours (Wedding Edition)

Kenny Chesney Talks About “No Shoes Nation” Live Album

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Kenny Chesney on Country Music News

Our favorite poet and pirate Kenny Chesney wasn’t intending to make a live album when he started recording his shows in 2007. He just knew there were so many special, magic nights and he wanted the tapes to remember them. And then when he finished his Spread the Love 2018 Tour, the man The Wall Street Journal deemed “The King of the Road” decided to go back and listen to hear how these songs have evolved over the past 10 years. “Even more than the way the guys have found new spots inside the songs, the horns or the special guests,” Chesney marvels, “It was the sound of No Shoes Nation that really caught my ear. They were so loud, and they only got louder over the years. I guess I thought some of these songs would fade for people over time, but that wasn’t necessarily the case. Even more than that, hearing them really got me fired up. The energy No Shoes Nation brings is its own rocket fuel.” So, Kenny Chesney took those recordings into the studio and started really listening. The more he combed through the tapes, the more he knew his next project was going to be a live album –  something that captures not just the songs or the musicians, but the people who shared all those nights with the 8-time Entertainer of the Year. “In some cases, it was hard to decide,” says the songwriter/superstar from East Tennessee. “Every version of the song was better than the last one. I think I could’ve used so many different nights. ‘Anything But Mine’ was one of those songs: people were so hungry to sing it with us. At the end, we just let the whole song die – and let the audience take it. Some nights, I swear, they sound better than we do! “That’s the thing about these songs, to me. I may record them, and be on the radio with them, but night after night on that stage, No Shoes Nation shows me: those songs are theirs. They invest their life, and their loves, and their heartbreaks into what these songs are… And when they sing, ‘In the morning I’m leaving, making my way back to Cleveland…’ it could be anywhere. That’s not what matters; what matters is that summer love, the one they’ll never forget.” [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDkxwvyFbIA[/embedyt] Working hard to create a document that reflects that passion has consumed a great deal of Chesney’s year off. Laughing, he admits, “If you want to really miss being out there, rocking, listen to ten years of the greatest fans in the world day-after-day.” Between listening, comparing, mixing, and sequencing, the guy the Los Angeles Times called “The People’s Superstar” has unearthed some obscure jewels, found some alternative versions, and caught some special moments with good friends that were only for the night. Whether its stadium shows, pop-up bar gigs, amphitheaters, or the occasional beach takeover, No Shoes Nation was there celebrating their lives in his Continue reading Kenny Chesney Talks About “No Shoes Nation” Live Album→