Author: Lauren Zimmerman

Luke Combs’ What You See Is What You Get debuts this week at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart as well as Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart with 172,000 equivalent units sold. It is also a global No. 1 album, topping charts in Canada, Australia and the U.K. Out now via River House Artists/ Columbia Nashville (stream/purchase here ), the record enjoyed the largest streaming week ever for a country album with 74 million on-demand streams. It also achieved the biggest first week of album streams for a country artist ever on Apple Music within its first two days of release and was the first country album ever to hit No. 1 on the platform’s U.S. overall albums chart, while also setting a new global record for first-week streams for a country album at Spotify and the Amazon Music record for more first-week streams than any other country album debut.

Additionally, Combs’ current single, “Even Though I’m Leaving,” is the No. 1 song on Billboard Country Airplay and Mediabase charts this week making it his seventh-consecutive No. 1 single and extending his record-breaking streak at country radio.

These achievements add to a triumphant year for Combs, who won two awards last week at the 53rd Annual CMA Awards: Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year (“Beautiful Crazy”). He also performed his No. 1 single “Beer Never Broke My Heart” during the live broadcast. Watch the performance HERE.

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. Additionally, The Prequel’s lead single, “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” recently reached No. 1 on both Billboard’s Country Airplay and Mediabase/Country Aircheck charts.

In celebration of the release, Combs is set to headline his first ever stadium show at Appalachian State University’s Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, NC on May 2, 2020. The sold-out stadium show is part of Combs’ newly confirmed “What You See Is What You Get Tour.” The 2020 run continues Combs’ historic success on the road with all ten of the first concerts selling out immediately after going on-sale

Continuing his historic year, Combs’ double Platinum debut album This One’s For You recently spent its 50th non-consecutive week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart—tying the record for the longest reign atop the chart with Shania Twain’s Come On Over in 1997. This One’s For You is also the most-streamed country album of 2019 so far. 

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET TRACK LIST
1. “Beer Never Broke My Heart”
2. “Refrigerator Door”
3. “Even Though I’m Leaving” 
4. “Lovin’ On You”
5. “Moon Over Mexico”
6. “1, 2 Many” featuring Brooks & Dunn 
7. “Blue Collar Boys”
8. “New Everyday”
9. “Reasons”
10. “Every Little Bit Helps”
11. “Dear Today”
12. “What You See Is What You Get”
13. “Does To Me” featuring Eric Church 
14. “Angels Workin’ Overtime”
15. “All Over Again”
16. “Nothing Like You”
17. “Better Together” 

RECORDS/Arista Nashville breakthrough entertainer Matt Stell announces the EVERYWHERE BUT ON TOUR, his first headline tour, kicking off in San Diego, CA on January 24 and spanning the U.S. through March of 2020. The 24-date tour will feature support artists Chris Bandi and Ray Fulcher (with the exception of the few concerts noted).

The tour name echoes that of his debut EP, Everywhere But On, which released on May 24. Officially impacting country radio on Monday, Dec. 2, the EP’s title track is Matt Stell’s follow-up single to his smash “Prayed For You.” “Everywhere But On” was co-written by Stell, Paul Sikes and Lance Miller and produced by Ash Bowers and Stell.

With a career poised to skyrocket, Stell continues to ride the success of his Gold-certified multi-week No. 1 hit “Prayed For You.” On the Billboard Country Airplay chart, “Prayed For You” is the ONLY debut artist single to top the chart in 2019. In addition to holding No.1 for two consecutive weeks on Billboard, Stell’s hit topped the Country Aircheck/ Mediabase Airplay chart as well. Penned by Stell, Ash Bowers, and Allison Veltz, “Prayed For You” has exceeded 125 million streams.

MATT STELL EVERYWHERE BUT ON TOUR

1/24—San Diego, CA—Moonshine Flats
1/25—San Bernardino, CA—The Brandin’ Iron
1/30—Des Moines, IA—Wooly’s
1/31—Sioux City, IA—Anthem At The Hard Rock
2/1—Dubuque, IA—Q Casino
2/6—Milwaukee, WI—The Rave II
2/7—Chicago, IL—Joe’s Bar
2/8—Minneapolis, MN—Wild Greg’s Saloon
2/13—Louisville, KY—Mercury Ballroom
2/14—Warrendale, PA—Jergels
2/15—Rootstown, OH—Dusty Armadillo
2/27—Pensacola, FL—Wild Greg’s Saloon
2/28—Macon, GA—Crazy Bull
2/29—Savannah, GA—Saddle Bags
3/6—Ft. Myers, FL—The Ranch
3/11—New York, NY—Gramercy Theatre
3/12—Salisbury, MD—Blue Ocean Music Hall
3/13—Foxborough, MA—Six String Grill & Stage
3/14—Portland, ME—Aura
3/18—Grand Rapids, MI—The Intersection
3/19—Ft. Wayne, IN—The Clyde
3/20—Columbus, OH—The Bluestone
3/21—Binghampton, NY—Touch Of Texas
3/28**—Biloxi, MS—IP Casino Resort & Spa

* dates without Chris Bandi, **without Ray Fulcher, ***without Chris Bandi and Ray Fulcher

Everywhere But On EP Track Listing

1. “Last Habit” (Matt Stell, Jamie Moore, Brian Maher)
2. “Better I Drink” (Matt Stell, Autumn McEntire, Larry McCoy)
3. “Everywhere But On” (Matt Stell, Paul Sikes, Lance Miller)
4. “Home In A Hometown” feat. Jimmie Allen (Matt Stell, Ash Bowers, Matt Rogers)
5. “I Bet Whiskey Would” (Matt Stell, Chris Tompkins, Zach Abend)
6. “Prayed For You” (Matt Stell, Allison Veltz, Ash Bowers)
7. “Reason Why” (Matt Stell, Paul Sikes, Matt Alderman)

Matt Stell’s Everywhere But On EP is available HERE.

RCA Records Nashville breakout artist/songwriter Ryan Hurd is headlining a string of concert dates in 2020. Tickets for the “Platonic Tour,” featuring rising talent Adam Doleac and Niko Moon on select dates, go on sale Friday, Nov. 22. Information HERE. 

Fresh from opening for Old Dominion’s “Make It Sweet Tour” this fall, Hurd’s full-band show is headed to some of the country’s most respected music rooms for a repeat of the sold-out success of his debut “To A Tour,” which sold out venues in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Nashville earlier this year. 

Hurd hand-picked venues that created the right feel for his trademark tender lyrics and provocative melodies woven around real-world emotions. By following his inner voice, he’s become a Next Big Thing contender, lauded by the likes of Rolling Stone, Pandora, VEVO, CMT, Maxim, and Esquire. And performing live has been a natural extension of his impressive rise.  

Touring mainstay Pollstar singled Hurd out as “A new guard introspecter of the human heart.” 

Hurd has balanced his budding recording career with a songwriting portfolio that includes hits by Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, and Lady Antebellum. With more than 220 million worldwide career streams, his latest release, Platonic EP, and the “Platonic Tour” are the obvious evolution from performing songwriter to full-fledged artist.  

“Ryan Hurd has gone from Nashville’s best-kept-secret to one of its most promising rising stars,” saidPeople. 

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 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.” 

The “Platonic Tour” follows the success of Hurd’s latest radio climber, the Gold “To A T,” which has already reached No. 1 on SiriusXM The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown. 

Platonic Tour
Jan. 30 – The Bluestone, Columbus, OH
Jan. 31 – Manchester Music Hall, Lexington, KY
Feb. 6 – Cannery Ballroom, Nashville, TN
Feb. 7 – Minglewood Hall, Memphis, TN
Feb. 21 – 8 Second Saloon, Indianapolis, IN
Feb. 22 – Mercury Ballroom, Louisville, KY
Feb. 28 – Joe’s Sports Bar, Chicago, IL
Feb. 29 – St. Andrews Hall, Detroit, MI
March 5 – Gramercy Theatre, New York, NY
March 6 – Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
March 7 – Theatre of the Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
March 13 – The Midland Theater, Kansas City, MO
March 14 – DelMar Hall, St. Louis, MO
March 19 – Terminal West, Atlanta, GA
March 20 – Georgia Theatre, Athens, GA
March 21 – Coyote Joe’s, Charlotte, NC

Sony Music artists took home five trophies at “The 53rd Annual CMA Awards” Wednesday, nearly half the night’s 12 categories.

Luke Combs was named Male Vocalist of the Year for the first time, and also won Song of the Year for his 3x Platinum-certified, multi-week No. 1 hit “Beautiful Crazy” (co-written with Wyatt Durrette and Rob Williford). Combs took the stage performing his recent No. 1 hit “Beer Never Broke My Heart” and kicked off CMA morning by performing current Top 2 single “Even Though I’m Leaving” and “What You See Is What You Get,” the title track from his just-released album, on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Lil Nas X was an early winner in the day, as his wind Musical Event of the Year for his record-breaking smash “Old Town Road (Remix)” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus was announced live on “GMA.”

Maren Morris won her first Album of the Year trophy for her history-making sophomore LP GIRL, which she also produced with Greg Kurstin and busbee. Morris helped open the show, performing alongside some of country music’s most legendary female vocalists, including show co-hosts Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, and Dolly Parton. She later performed her No. 1 smash “GIRL.”

Old Dominion were named Vocal Group of the Year for the second consecutive time and performed their current Top 3 single “One Man Band.” 

Miranda Lambert treated the crowd to her new single “It All Comes Out in the Wash” while Brooks & Dunn gave a fiery rendition of “Hard Workin’ Man” featuring Brothers Osborne.

Double-Platinum Country band and Arista Nashville hit-makers LANCO have been tapped as the headlining halftime performer during the New England Patriots’ “Salute to Service” game on Nov. 24, when they take on the Dallas Cowboys. Presented by Bud Light, the group will give a sold-out crowd at Foxborough, MA’s Gillette Stadium a set filled with the rafter-shaking energy the five-man band are known for on the road. Additionally, LANCO will pay special tribute to the armed forces for their service and sacrifice and perform new music during the anticipated match-up including their new single “What I See,” which has become the most-added single of their career and is tied for the most added song this week.

LANCO continues to pave its course after the the success of their 2x Platinum, multi-week radio chart-topper “Greatest Love Story” and critically-acclaimed Gold hit “Born To Love You.” The five-man band’s No. 1-selling debut and coming-of-age album, HALLELUJAH NIGHTS, made LANCO the first Country group to debut on the Billboard Top Country albums charts at No. 1 in 10 years. The new music from the ACM “New Group of the Year” follows multiple nominations from from the CMT, CMA, ACM, AMA, and iHeartAwards, while Lancaster became the first member of a group to ever win NSAI’s “Songwriter/Artist of the Year.” After playing over 100 shows this year “one of Country’s most potent live acts” ( Rolling Stone) will propel the “infectious bounce to their pop-country, small-town storytelling” (Green Bay Press Gazette) as their headlining WHAT I SEE TOUR kicks off ahead of hitting the road for Miranda Lambert’s 2020 WILDCARD TOUR. 

Multi-Platinum, 3X AMA award-winning artist Kane Brown today announced his first ever international headlining tour, the Kane Brown Worldwide Beautiful Tour. Announced by USA Today Network/The Tennessean, the Kane Brown Worldwide Beautiful Tour will kick off the North American leg of the tour on February 2, 2020 in Dublin, Ireland, following Brown’s sold-out Los Angeles Staples Center headlining date on January 9th as part of the Staples Center 20th Anniversary Celebration. The Worldwide Beautiful Tour will make stops in Dublin (2/2), London (2/4), Amsterdam (2/5), Paris (2/6), and Berlin (2/8) before circling back to kick-off the North American leg of the tour on February 29. Country hitmakers Russell Dickerson and Chris Lane also join the Worldwide Beautiful Tour lineup, with each rotating direct support slots throughout the tour. An additional support act will be announced in 2020. Tickets for the Kane Brown Worldwide Beautiful Tour will go on sale Friday, November 15 at 10 am local time.*

“Breakthrough entertainer” (Associated Press) Kane Brown continues to “defy-genres” and “break boundaries” (Billboard) in country music. The leading vocalist’s latest collaboration, the “brutally catchy” (Rolling Stone) “One Thing Right” with internationally renowned DJ/producer Marshmello has already amassed nearly 400 million times worldwide, and can be streamed HERE. In addition to Brown’s vocal highlighted on the track, which “shines with his deep twang that is both warm and dangerous” ( Rolling Stone), he also co-wrote “One Thing Right.”  

Noted as being the “future of Country” (Billboard) and one of “31 People Changing the South” (Time), Brown released his sophomore Experiment in November 2018, debuting No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Top Country Albums chart. With Experiment, Brown became the only male country artist in more than 24 years to debut at the top of the Billboard 200, and only one of three country artists to top the Billboard 200 chart in all of 2018. To date, Experiment has produced back-to-back No. 1 hits – the Platinum-certified singles “Lose It” and “Good As You” – and was ranked by The New York Times  as one of the Top 10 Best Albums of the Year. An ACM, AMA, Billboard Music Awards and CMT Music Awards nominee, Brown first broke through the country charts with his debut self-titled album, which debuted No. on the Billboard Top Country Album chart and spent 13 weeks at the top of the chart. Brown is the first artist in Billboard history to Top all 5 Billboard Country charts simultaneously, and, with the 4X Platinum certifications of “Heaven” and “What Ifs,” he is one of only five country acts with multiple 4X Platinum hits (joining Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt and Taylor Swift.)

With “crowd-pleasing original tunes and the voice to make them memorable” (The Roanoke Times), Brown is “not your typical every day act,” and has earned praise as “the boundary-defying future of country music,” (Atlanta Journal Constitution) and “one of the genre’s biggest and most unique artists” (The Commercial Appeal). The arena headliner who puts on “an extraordinarily ebullient concert” (Kansas City Star ) continues to earn praise and break concert records with his sold-out live performances, including a recent record at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for most fans in attendance for a country act and with his forthcoming headlining Staples Center show, which sold out in less than two hours.

Live Nation is the official tour promoter and Citi is the official pre-sale credit card of the Worldwide Beautiful Tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase pre-sale tickets through Citi Entertainment. For complete pre-sale details visit www.citientertainment.com.  For official tour information, including ticket information please visit kanebrownmusic.com.  Following the success of Brown’s sold-out Live Forever Tour, Marathon Petroleum will continue to fuel Kane Brown on the road in 2020.

Kane Brown WorldWide Beautiful Tour Dates:

2/2/2020—Dublin, Ireland—Academy Dublin

2/4/2020—London, UKO2—Forum Kentish Town 

2/5/2020—Amsterdam, Netherlands—Melkweg 

2/6/2020—Paris, France—L’Alhambra

2/8/2020—Berlin, Germany—Metropol

2/29/2020—Atlantic City, NJ—Boardwalk Hall

3/1/2020—Allentown, PA—PPL Center

3/5/2020—Portland, ME—Cross Insurance Arena

3/6/2020—Albany, NY—Times Union Center

3/7/2020—Buffalo, NY—KeyBank Center

3/19/2020—Ottawa, ON—Canadian Tire Centre

3/20/2020—Oshawa, ON—Tribute Comm. Centre

3/21/2020—London, ON—Budweiser Gardens

3/26/2020—North Charleston, SC—North Charleston Coliseum

3/28/2020—Jacksonville, FL*—Daily’s Place

4/23/2020—Tupelo, MS—BancorpSouth Arena

4/24/2020—Brandon, MS—Brandon Amphitheater

4/25/2020—Lafayette, LA—CAJUNDOME

4/30/2020—El Paso, TX—Don Haskins Center

5/1/2020—Lubbock, TX—United Supermarkets Arena

5/7/2020—Lincoln, NE*—Pinnacle Bank Arena

5/8/2020—Moline, IL—TaxSlayer Center

5/9/2020—Kansas City, MO—Sprint Center

*Jacksonville, Florida tickets will go on-sale Friday, December 6, and Lincoln, Nebraska on-sale Friday, November 15, 12 pm local time. 

ACM, CMA and CMT Award-winning artist Luke Combs’ highly anticipated new album What You See Is What You Get is out today via River House Artists/Columbia Nashville. Stream/purchase HERE. Released to widespread critical acclaim, NPR Music’s Ann Powers praises, “He can take any classic country theme and give you just enough of a spin on it…that it becomes completely memorable…This whole album is full of country bangers.”

After recently visiting “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for an interview and performance of his current Top 2 single, “Even Though I’m Leaving,” as well as “ 1, 2 Many ,” Combs will celebrate the release with a  performance on “Good Morning America” next Wednesday, November 13 before returning to the CMA Awards stage, where he is nominated for three awards: Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year (“Beautiful Crazy”) and Musical Event of the Year (“Brand New Man” with Brooks & Dunn). 

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).

Additionally, Combs is set to headline his first ever stadium show at Appalachian State University’s Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, NC on May 2, 2020. The sold-out stadium show is part of Combs’ newly confirmed “What You See Is What You Get Tour.” The 2020 run continues Combs’ historic success on the road with all ten of the first concerts selling out immediately after going on-sale. 

Adding to his monumental year, Combs’ double Platinum debut album This One’s For You recently spent its 50th non-consecutive week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart—tying the record for the longest reign atop the chart with Shania Twain’s Come On Over in 1997. This One’s For You is also the most-streamed country album of 2019 so far.  

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET TRACK LIST
1. “Beer Never Broke My Heart”
2. “Refrigerator Door”
3. “Even Though I’m Leaving” 
4. “Lovin’ On You”
5. “Moon Over Mexico”
6. “1, 2 Many” featuring Brooks & Dunn 
7. “Blue Collar Boys”
8. “New Everyday”
9. “Reasons”
10. “Every Little Bit Helps”
11. “Dear Today”
12. “What You See Is What You Get”
13. “Does To Me” featuring Eric Church 
14. “Angels Workin’ Overtime”
15. “All Over Again”
16. “Nothing Like You”
17. “Better Together” 

We’ve got your CMA Awards playlist right here! Get albums from some of your favorite Sony Music Nashville artists on iTunes for $6.99 now through November 14th.

Maren Morris – GIRL
Kane Brown – Experiment
Luke Combs – This One’s For You Too
Kane Brown – Kane Brown
Mitchell Tenpenny – Telling All My Secrets
Old Dominion – Happy Endings
Brooks & Dunn – Reboot
Pistol Annies – Interstate Gospel
Maren Morris – Hero

The 53^rd Annual CMA Awards air LIVE from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 8/7c on ABC. Tune-in for performances from Brooks & Dunn, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris and Old Dominion as well as Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and P!NK.

Rising country star Jameson Rodgers launched his new fan club, The Neighborhood, with a packed-house show at Ole Red in downtown Nashville Monday night.

“This past year has been a whirlwind for me, and everyone in this room has been part of this journey in some way,” Rodgers told the crowd. “I just want to say thank you for the support over the years, and I’m glad to be able to celebrate with you guys tonight and officially welcome you to The Neighborhood.”

The Neighborhood’s free membership includes priority meet & greet and ticket pre-sale access, exclusive events and giveaways, merchandise discounts and more. Fans can join at jamesonrodgers.com. 

Rodgers’ debut single “Some Girls” is this week’s Hot Shot Debut on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and has currently amassed over 38 million on-demand streams. Recently named to Vevo’s DSCVR program spotlighting promising new talent, Rodgers also celebrated his first No. 1 as a songwriter as the Gold-certified hit “I Don’t Know About You,” performed by Chris Lane, topped the charts.  

Rodgers has been rocking crowds across the country on Luke Combs’ sold-out BEER NEVER BROKE MY HEART TOUR, which will wrap next month with a two-night stand at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena (Dec. 12-13).