Author: james

Arista Nashville artist/songwriter Robert Counts celebrated the release of his self-titled EP Friday with a party for student songwriters, musicians and performers at the Notes For Notes recording studio at the Boys & Girls Club of San Francisco Excelsior Clubhouse. Listen to the EP HERE.

Counts toured the San Francisco studio, performed several songs from the EP, and answered questions about his rising career while students in Austin, Denver, and Minneapolis listened in. Since 2014, Notes for Notes has been a recipient of $2 million in funding from the CMA Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association that works to ensure every child has access to a high-quality music education by supporting music educators and innovative music education programs across the U.S.

With the release of his self-titled, five-song EP, Counts comes into his own as an artist writing from an authentic place about simple themes that give a deeper meaning to the ordinary. Produced by Jimmy Ritchey and Dann Huff , Counts holds nothing back from parental life advice in “Backseat Driver,” to the sweet anticipation of “Someone In My Someday,” the sexy, take-you-as-you-are “Dress Up,” the yearning/hopefulness of “Better People,” and the smoldering soul of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.” To coincide with the EP release and as part of his “Live In Nashville” series, Counts released a live version of the Gnarls Barkley cover. Listen HERE.

Next week, Robert leaves for Germany and four shows in Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Berlin before returning for several stateside dates through the end of the year. Click HERE for tour information.

Jameson Rodgers made his debut at the historic Grand Ole Opry Wednesday night, surrounded by friends, family, and extended team. 

“I can’t believe this is actually happening,” Rodgers told the crowd. “I moved to Nashville nine years ago and I made some goals for myself. One was to sign a record deal, the other was to write a hit song, and the other was to play the Grand Ole Opry. 2019 has been my year. I signed a record deal in January with Sony Records and River House. I’m a songwriter on the No. 2 song at country radio right now. And I’m standing in the circle. I say that with all the humility in the world, cause it’s been quite a journey getting to this point and it hasn’t always been easy, but I think that’s the way life’s supposed to be.”

Rodgers performed his debut single “Some Girls” – which recently hit 35 million on-demand streams – as well as fan-favorite “Missing One” and unreleased ballad “Desert.” 

The hard-touring entertainer – who is a co-writer on Chris Lane’s Top 2 smash “I Don’t Know About You” – has been rocking crowds across the country on his summer headlining trek. Thursday night he returned to Luke Combs’ BEER NEVER BROKE MY HEART TOUR as the fall leg kicked off in Rogers, AR. Rodgers will open for Combs at iconic venues including two-night stands at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA and Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

Multi-Platinum artist Chris Young adds to his impressive resume today as he makes his directorial debut with the music video for his newest hit, “Drowning.” Co-directed with Native 31 Films Producer and Director Jeff Johnson, the stirring clip opens with Young holding a photo of Adam Carnes, his longtime friend whose loss is memorialized in the song’s “soul-shattering lyrics.” Young chatted with his fans on YouTube before the premiere of his new video. Watch it HERE.

With a universal message that gives voice to the often-overwhelming emotions of grief, interspersed throughout the “Drowning” music video are moving tributes to spouses, children, parents, siblings and friends from concertgoers at the Richmond, VA date of his “Raised On Country World Tour 2019.”

Already a favorite in his live show, Young was compelled to film his performance of the song at MGM Grand Garden Arena during his first headlining show in Las Vegas in nearly two years. Fans raised their phones to light the arena as the performance served to honor the victims and fellow survivors of Route 91 Harvest Festival. 

“I’ve been so amazed at the reaction to this song,” said Young. “I wrote it with two friends as a moment of healing and had no idea it would touch so many people before it was even chosen as a single. The video, combining so many personal moments alongside a live performance, totally embodies that and I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”

With its raw lyrics and vulnerable vocals exposing the realities of loss and grief, “Drowning,” along with “ Raised On Country” and “Town Ain’t Big Enough,” featuring Lauren Alaina, are available now and will be included on his upcoming studio album.

Arista Nashville’s The Sisterhood Band has released their “Get Up And Go” music video. Co-producers and co-writers of the track, The Sisterhood Band’s Alyssa Bonagura and Ruby Stewart wrote the treatment for the video. Co-directed by Jessica Amerson and Dallas Wilson, the music video can be viewed HERE.

The clip’s vividly colorful images and lyric-specific scenes were captured while the duo and country power-station KKGO “Go Country 105” partnered on a multiple-week promotion campaign in support of “Get Up And Go” in Los Angeles, including KKGO listener events at the Porsche Experience Center Los Angeles and La Peer Kimpton Hotel, on-air interviews and social takeovers as well as a television appearance on KTLA’s Morning News.

“We brought in two of our best friends, Dallas Wilson and Jessica Amerson, to help make this video with us,” remarked duo member Alyssa Bonagura. “We wanted people to get a real feel for who we are and what it would be like to take a road trip with us,” she added with a chuckle. “The clothes, the locations, the dancing, and the shenanigans is 100% exactly how we are in real life and hope our fans have as much fun watching it as we did making it!”

The Sisterhood Band’s Ruby Stewart responded, “This video means a lot to me – being a California native! We chose some our favorite locations along California’s Golden Coast, because that’s what inspired the song. We wanted our first music video to feel truly like US, so we styled and glammed it ourselves.” Stewart enthused, “Also, collaborating with people you love, like Jessica and Dallas, makes it easy to be yourself. We had absolutely brilliant time shooting this music video. I hope this stirs some restless feeling in your bones and you get up and go. The world is out there waiting for you, all you need is a ‘69 Cadillac with mounted longhorns!”

ACM, CMA and CMT Award-winning artist Luke Combs will kick off his What You See Is What You Get Tour next year with newly confirmed stops at Lexington’s Rupp Arena, Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena, Albuquerque’s Isleta Amphitheater, Colorado Spring’s Broadmoor World Arena and Houston’s Toyota Center among many others. See below for complete tour details.

Tickets for the shows—which will feature special guests Ashley McBryde and Drew Parker—will be available for verified pre-sale starting next Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 12:00 p.m. local time with general on-sale following on Friday, Sept. 27 at 10:00 a.m. local time. Once again, Combs’ official fan club, The Bootleggers, will have first access to tickets through Ticketmaster Verified Fan pre-sale starting next Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 10:00 a.m. local time. Additionally, every concert ticket sold online will include a copy of Combs’ highly anticipated new album What You See Is What You Get. For tickets and information, please visit www.lukecombs.com. 

These performances celebrate a monumental year for Combs, who will release What You See Is What You Get Nov. 8 via River House Artists/Columbia Nashville (pre-order here). Each pre-order includes an instant download of new track, “1, 2 Many” featuring Brooks & Dunn, as well as the five tracks previously released as part Combs’ The Prequel EP. 

Produced by Scott Moffatt, What You See Is What You Get features 17 songs including the five tracks previously released via The Prequel EP earlier this summer. The EP debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart with all five tracks charting on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Top 25—a feat not accomplished by any artist in 60 years since Johnny Cash in 1959. The release also propelled Combs to the largest streaming week ever for a country artist with 73 million on-demand streams (week ending June 13). Additionally, The Prequel’s lead single, “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” recently reached No. 1 on bothBillboard ’s Country Airplay and Mediabase/Country Aircheck charts. This is Combs’ sixth consecutive No. 1—a first on the Billboard Country Airplay chart—and his fastest-rising single to date (13 weeks).

Adding to his historic year, Combs is nominated for three awards at the 2019 CMA Awards: Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year (“Beautiful Crazy”) and Musical Event of the Year (“Brand New Man” with Brooks & Dunn). The awards ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT.

Moreover, Combs’ new single “Even Though I’m Leaving” was recently shipped to country radio and continues to receive widespread critical acclaim. Of the song, The New York Times declares, “Luke Combs has one of the most emotionally tactile voices in contemporary country music…even at his most tender, Combs is firm, stepping into the rawness of the feeling, not away from it.” Watch/share the official music video HERE.

What You See Is What You Get is the follow up to Combs’ breakthrough double Platinum debut, This One’s For You, which has spent 47 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart—the longest reign ever for a male artist and second longest for an artist overall following Shania Twain’s Come On Over in 1997 (50 weeks). This One’s For You is also the most-streamed country album of 2019 so far.

LUKE COMBS’ “BEER NEVER BROKE MY HEART TOUR” September 26—Rogers, AR—Walmart AMP* (SOLD OUT)
September 27—Bloomington, IL—Grossinger Motors Arena* (SOLD OUT)
September 28—St. Paul, MN—Xcel Energy Center* (SOLD OUT)
October 3—Cape Girardeau, MO—Show Me Center† (SOLD OUT)
October 4—Kansas City, MO—Sprint Center† (SOLD OUT)
October 5—Des Moines, IA—Wells Fargo Arena† (SOLD OUT)
October 8—Winnipeg, MB—Bell MTS Place† (SOLD OUT)
October 10—Saskatoon, SK—SaskTel Center† (SOLD OUT) 
October 11—Edmonton, AB—Rogers Place† (SOLD OUT)
October 12—Calgary, AB—The Scotiabank Saddledome† (SOLD OUT)
October 15—Missoula, MT—Adams Center† (SOLD OUT)
October 16—Bozeman, MT—Brick Breeden Fieldhouse† (SOLD OUT)    
October 18—Portland, OR—Moda Center† (SOLD OUT)
October 19—Vancouver, BC—Rogers Arena† (SOLD OUT)
October 22—Los Angeles, CA—The Greek Theatre† (SOLD OUT)
October 23—Los Angeles, CA—The Greek Theatre† (SOLD OUT)
October 25—Fresno, CA—Save Mart Center† (SOLD OUT)
October 26—Sacramento, CA—Golden 1 Center† (SOLD OUT)
October 31—Nampa, ID—Ford Idaho Center† (SOLD OUT)
November 1—Spokane, WA—Spokane Arena† (SOLD OUT)
November 2—Tacoma, WA—Tacoma Dome† (SOLD OUT) 
November 6—San Jose, CA—SAP Center at San Jose†
November 7—San Diego, CA—Pechanga Arena San Diego† (SOLD OUT)
November 8—Phoenix, AZ—Talking Stick Resort Arena† (SOLD OUT)
November 15—Indianapolis, IN—Bankers Life Fieldhouse† (SOLD OUT)
November 16—Cleveland, OH—Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse† (SOLD OUT)
November 21—Philadelphia, PA—Wells Fargo Center† (SOLD OUT)
November 22—Uncasville, CT—Mohegan Sun Arena† (SOLD OUT)
November 23—Pittsburgh, PA—PPG Paints Arena† (SOLD OUT)
December 5—Bossier City, LA—CenturyLink Center† (SOLD OUT)
December 6—Lubbock, TX—United Supermarkets Arena† (SOLD OUT)
December 7—San Antonio, TX—AT&T Center‡ (SOLD OUT)
December 11—Louisville, KY—KFC Yum! Center† (SOLD OUT)
December 12—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena† (SOLD OUT)
December 13—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena† (SOLD OUT)
February 7, 2020—Columbia, MO—Mizzou Arena§
February 8, 2020—Peoria, IL—Peoria Civic Center§ 
February 13, 2020—University Park, PA—Bryce Jordan Center§ 
February 14, 2020—Lexington, KY—Rupp Arena§ 
February 15, 2020—Grand Rapids, MI—Van Andel Arena§ 
April 18, 2020—Albuquerque, NM—Isleta Amphitheater§
April 19, 2020—Colorado Springs, CO—Broadmoor World Arena§ 
April 21, 2020—Las Cruces, NM—Pan American Center§ 
April 24, 2020—Corpus Christi, TX—American Bank Center§ 
April 25, 2020—Houston, TX—Toyota Center§
*with The Cadillac Three and Jameson Rodgers
†with Morgan Wallen and Jameson Rodgers
‡with Flatland Calvary and Jameson Rodgers 
§with Ashley McBryde and Drew Parker 

LUKE COMBS’ ADDITIONAL TOUR DATES
September 17—Los Angeles, CA—All For The Hall  
September 21—East Troy, WI—Alpine Valley Music Theatre 
September 22—Cincinnati, OH—Outlaw Music Festival 
November 17—Atlanta, GA—Mercedes-Benz Stadium 
November 18—Augusta, GA—Guitar Pull 2019 
June 4-7, 2020—Myrtle Beach, SC—Carolina Country Music Fest 
June 13, 2020—Winsted, MN—Winstock Country Music Festival 
June 20, 2020—North Lawrence, OH—The Country Fest 
June 26, 2020—North Platte, NE—Nebraskaland Days
June 27, 2020—Topeka, KS—Heartland Stampede
July 10, 2020—Fort Loramie, OH—Country Concert 

BOLD on-sale next Friday, Sept. 27 at 10:00 a.m. local time 
LukeCombs.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Country music superstar, Brad Paisley, is set to host and executive produce “Brad Paisley Thinks He’s Special,” an hour-long prime-time special set to air on ABC later this season from Sony Pictures Television. The variety special will showcase the energy of Music City from Nashville’s iconic War Memorial Auditorium through a combination of Paisley’s signature humor, unexpected surprises, heartfelt field pieces and rousing musical performances.    On hand for this prime-time special are some of Paisley’s friends and the biggest names in entertainment including country sensation Kelsea Ballerini, iconic musical group Hootie & The Blowfish, GRAMMY®-nominated multiplatinum powerhouse trio Jonas Brothers, host of ABC’s “The Bachelor” franchise Chris Harrison, NFL legend Peyton Manning, superstars Tim McGraw and Darius Rucker, seven-time GRAMMY Award-winning country superstar Carrie Underwood and more.    “Wait, I thought it was called the ‘Brad Paisley Special.’ Who added the ‘Thinks He’s’? Oh well, I’m still psyched,” said host and executive producer Brad Paisley. “I am so excited for Brad to be able to turn this fun, down-home country idea into a reality on ABC,” said Rob Mills, senior vice president, Alternative Series, Specials & Late Night, ABC Entertainment. “We all know him as an award-winning country superstar, and now we get the chance to see his comedic talents as he brings this variety special to life with the help of an incredible roster of A-list talent.”   “We’re so excited to be working with one of our great Sony music artists on such a distinctive new format. Brad has brought so much creativity, heart, comedy and celebrity wattage to this hour, we can’t wait for everyone to see it,” said Holly Jacobs, EVP, Alternative & Syndication Programming, Sony Pictures Entertainment. “Brad Paisley Thinks He’s Special” will be produced by Sony Pictures Television. Brad Paisley, Jane Mun, RAC Clark, Bill Simmons and Kendal Marcy will serve as executive producers.   Brad Paisley is a critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, guitarist and entertainer whose talents have earned him numerous awards, including three GRAMMYs, two American Music Awards, 14 Academy of Country Music Awards and 14 Country Music Association Awards (including Entertainer of the Year), among many others. He has been a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2001. Paisley has written 21 of his 24 No. 1 hits and has accumulated over 20 million career total worldwide album sales, track downloads and streaming equivalents. Paisley’s 2019 World Tour heads to Europe next month after traveling across the U.S. throughout this past summer.   Paisley is involved with a successful ongoing multiyear ad campaign with Nationwide Ò Insurance, along with Peyton Manning. Paisley and his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, are co-founders of a nonprofit organization called The Store, a free referral-based grocery store, which aims to empower low-income individuals and families in the Nashville area. Go to www.thestore.org for more information. Paisley has partnered with Boot Barn® and developed an exclusive line of jeans, hats, T-shirts, jewelry, belts and woven shirts called Moonshine Spirit by Brad Paisley. Connect with Brad at www.BradPaisley.com, on FaceBook @BradPaisley, on Twitter @BradPaisley, on Instagram @Brad Paisley and YouTube at YouTube.com/BradPaisley.

It’s been an eventful week for RCA Records Nashville artist/songwriter Ryan Hurd. After participating in the SIP Hope 4 Hope Town benefit concert at the Ryman Auditorium on Monday, Ryan received a Gold certification for his single “To A T” on Tuesday, and, on Friday, he will release the new, five-song Platonic EP.

The collection includes Hurd’s current rising radio hit “To A T” and the sweetly wistful “Wish For the World,” which Hurd performed during the Hope 4 Hope Town benefit, presented by Songwriters in Paradise. The star-packed concert raised funds for an estimated 70,000 people in the Bahamas left homeless by the ravages of Hurricane Dorian on Sept. 1.  

Late Tuesday, Hurd was rehearsing for his upcoming, opening slot on the Old Dominion “Make It Sweet Tour,” which kicks off on Sept. 27 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC, when members of his management team and Sony Music Nashville surprised him with T-shirt-shaped cookies and a Gold plaque for “To A T.”

With career streams exceeding 220 million worldwide, Hurd has been singled out for his stripped-down authenticity on “To A T,” which has already reached No. 1 on SiriusXM The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown. Hurd co-wrote the sultry single with Laura Veltz and Nathan Spicer with attention-grabbing bass, sonic guitar work, and drop-you-in-your-tracks harmony from partner and muse Maren Morris. The song, which has been lauded by tastemakers, is included in the eagerly-awaited Platonic EP, which is available Friday.

“A super sweet romantic ballad about love and the intimacy of knowing a partner down to a T. – Pop Star

 “…cleverly written love letter. It has a coy, cuddly and super romantic flavor that’s as tasty as a candy bar.” –Music Row

“A gorgeous ode to intimacy and quiet moments spent with a soulmate.” – Wide Open Country

“With booming bass, sonic guitars, and swoon-worthy lyrics, “To A T” is proving a most enjoyable way to close out the summer and head into fall…” – Cowboys & Indians

“Oozes romance, love and the intimacy…” – The Boot

The praise is earned. Hurd was named the only country artist on Sirius XM’s all-genre “Future Five” for 2019. He was tapped by AOL as one of their country artists set for a breakout year, Amazon Music’s Best of 2018, and one of 2019’s “Next Big Names” by Cowboys & Indians, which said, “His Lyrics can be hopelessly romantic, quietly edgy, effortlessly sexy as well, or all of the above.” 

For more on Ryan Hurd and to catch him on tour, visit www.RyanHurd.com.

RECORDS/Arista Nashville recording artist, Matt Stell, is excited to release his seven-song Everywhere But On EP on all platforms today, May 24.

The highly- anticipated collection, co-produced by Stell and Wide Open Music’s Ash Bowers, includes the lead single, “Prayed For You.”  Written by Stell, along with Bowers and Allison Veltz, named as one of Rolling Stone‘s “10 Best Country Songs to Hear Now,” and dubbed “Career changing” by Music Row, the hit has already amassed more than 47 million on-demand streams and in excess of 400,000 consumption units and counting.  Stell co-wrote every track on Everywhere But On, including “Home In A Hometown,” which features fellow country standout Jimmie Allen. Check out the new project HERE.

Described as “articulate, quick-witted and aware that ‘Prayed For You’ was the answer to his prayers” (The Tennessean), Stell has been named one of Taste of Country‘s Artists to Watch and a CMT Discovery Artist.  He will celebrate his EP release day (5/24) on the road at the “Kick Off To Summer” with Country 94-7 with a free and open to the public show in Lake Como, NJ. For tickets and information click HERE.

Adding to the exciting summer, he will be returning to the Opry stage on Wednesday, June 12, after making his Grand Ole Opry debut on April 27. For Opry tickets and information, click HERE. 

In advance of the release of Everywhere But On, Stell released  a music video for the title track. Directed by Austin Peckham  and filmed in Nashville, TN and Pensacola Beach, FL, the moody clip depicts Stell, brooding over a heartache he cannot find a way to outrun. See it HERE.

About Matt Stell: After playing college basketball for Drury University for four years, breakthrough country artist Matt Stell stood at a crossroads. One road led to Cambridge, MA where Stell was accepted into Harvard University’s Extension School Pre-Med program. The other road pointed toward Nashville and a career in country music. Stell made the choice to follow his dreams of writing and performing. The 6’7” Center Ridge, Arkansas native and self-taught vocalist and guitar-player made the move to Music City in 2014, landing a publishing and management deal with Wide Open Music and a record deal with music industry powerhouse Barry Weiss’s RECORDS/Arista Nashville. His debut single, “Prayed For You,” written by Stell along with Ash Bowers and Alison Veltz, has already amassed more than 47 million digital streams, making waves on Billboard’s Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs Charts and spinning on SiriusXM’s The Highway in addition to having been featured on Spotify’s Hot Country, New Boots, Wild Country, and Country Kind Of Love Playlists, Amazon’s “The Weekly One,” and Apple’s A-List Country Playlist. The CMT Discovery Artist and Taste of Country Ones To Watch artist’s official music video for “Prayed For You” premiered viaPeople, stars Savannah Chrisley and her fiancé, Nic Kerdiles has racked up more than 4.6 million views. See it  HERE.

“Prayed For You” along with “Home In A Hometown,” a collaboration with Jimmie Allen, can be found on Everywhere But On. Catch Matt at a number of major country music festivals this summer including CMA Fest (Nashville, TN), LakeShake (Chicago, IL), and Watershed (George, WA) and learn more at mattstell.com, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram,YouTube@MattStellMusic.

Today, Maren Morris and Apple Music announce the upcoming release of a brand new EP titled Maren Morris: Reimagined featuring lovingly reworked acoustic renditions of three of her biggest hits with influential Nashville producer Dave Cobb.

As a companion to the EP, Apple Music will also be releasing a special short film that takes fans behind the scenes in the studio as Morris—a country music powerhouse known for experimenting with elements of pop and dance music—shares the meaning behind “GIRL” “The Bones,” and “The Middle” while giving each song a new, vocal-centric treatment. 

On songwriting, Maren says: “You can’t walk in with any ego. It’s just about going in and getting the best song. That’s why so many of my closest friends I met though these co-writes. it’s because you learn so much so quickly in a co-write with somebody because you’re like, hi, nice to meet you. Let me bear my soul to you for the next several hours.” 

About the EP and working with Dave Cobb, she says: “I think the mark of a good song is you can rearrange it up and it still is a very defining song. Dave you know, his production is so–rootsy and very soulful and Americana and he just understands that sound so intensely. I love the way it turned out.”

The Maren Morris: Reimagined EP and the companion film will be available exclusively on Apple Music beginning May 31. 

Maren’s GIRL is still the No. 1 Day 1 and Week 1 Female Country Album worldwide on Apple Music and holds the record for the top pre-added country album globally by a female artists to date on Apple Music.

Catch up on all things Maren on Apple Music HERE.