Author: Meghan Reich
COREY KENT HITS THE PAVEMENT WITH THE RELEASE OF NEW ALBUM “BLACKTOP”
Features the #1 Platinum Certified Hit “Wild As Her”; Track Surpasses Over 280 Million On-Demand Streams
Sold Out Album Release Show With Special Guest Dylan Marlowe Tonight @ Brooklyn Bowl Nashville
Nashville, TN – Oklahoma native/Texas based Corey Kent releases his major label debut Blacktop today via RCA Nashville/Sony Music Nashville. The 10-track album features writing credits from Kent himself as well as Morgan Wallen, Ryan Hurd, Kelly Archer, Lydia Vaughan and more with production from Jay Joyce and Chris Farren. Listen to the album here.
“I went to work for a pavement company when the world shut down,” says Kent. “I even recorded a few of the songs on Blacktop while I was still working there. So what better way to pay tribute to that industry and the folks that gave me an opportunity to provide for my family. I also called it Blacktop because that’s where we’ve spent the most time over the last few years pounding the pavement and playing club after club every weekend since Jan 2021. Blacktop pays tribute to where I’ve been, what we’ve been up to, and through, and where we are headed.”
Blacktop is an actual representation of various pieces of Kent’s life and the next evolution of his sound. With a better understanding of who he is as an artist, and as a man, the songs suggest more depth and substance than typical mainstream fare, showcasing key tenants of his life, while the production hits true to Kent’s live performance grit.
The album features Kent’s #1 certified platinum debut single “Wild As Her” (Combustion Music/RCA Nashville). The track continues to stream consistently culminating in over 280 million on demand streams while the music video helped garner Kent the nomination for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year at the 2023 CMT Awards. The album also features released tracks, “Man of the House,” “How You Know You Made It,” “Hood of that Car” and “Something’s Gonna Kill Me” and the deeply personal track “Once or Twice.” Watch the lyric video for “Once or Twice” here.
In celebration of the release, Kent will take the stage to a sold out crowd at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville with special guest Dylan Marlowe and end release week with a performance at the 50th Anniversary of CMA Music Festival. Later this summer, Kent will hit the road on Jason Aldean’s Highway Desperado Tour. Earlier this year, Kent kicked off 2023 joining Parker McCollum, played Tortuga Music Festival, made his debut at Stagecoach. For more information on the tour please visit: https://www.coreykentofficial.com/#tour.
Kent was named as a CMT Listen Up Artist for 2023, a Pandora Artist to Watch The Opry Next Stage Class of 2023, Sirius XM Class of 2022 and was nominated for an AIMP Nashville Country Awards for AIMP Rising Artist-Writer of the Year.
BLACKTOP Track List
1. Wild as Her (Kelly Archer/Brett Tyler/Morgan Wallen)
2. Long Story Short (Corey Kent/Lydia Vaughan)
3. Something’s Gonna Kill Me (Corey Kent/Austin Goodloe/Joybeth Taylor/Lydia Vaughan)
4. Man of the House (Corey Kent/Austin Goodloe/Joybeth Taylor/Lydia Vaughan)
5. Gone as You (Casey Brown/Matthew McGinn/Travis Wood)
6. BiC Flame (Corey Kent/Jack Hummel/Jon Sherwood)
7. Call It a Night (Aaron Eshuis/Ryan Hurd)
8. How You Know You Made It (Corey Kent/AJ Pruis/Smith Ahnquist)
9. Hood of That Car (Corey Kent/Blake Chaffin/Jack Hummel/Jacob Lutz)
10. Once or Twice (Corey Kent/Lee Miller)
Tracks 1 & 9 Produced by Chris Farren
Tracks 2-8 & 10 Produced by Jay Joyce
Official Website | TikTok | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube
DYLAN MARLOWE WEDS FIANCÉ TODAY + SURPRISES HER WITH A SONG, “YOU WERE RIGHT (NAT’S SONG),” OUT NOW
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Dylan Marlowe weds longtime girlfriend Natalie Barber in a ceremony in Nashville. As a surprise to Natalie, he released a song dedicated to her today, “You Were Right (Nat’s Song).” Listen here.
“I wrote this song about my girlfriend at the time who I am marrying today,” Dylan said. “It’s funny because a line in the song talks about selling my Jon boat to buy a ring, which luckily I didn’t have to sell my boat! (Thanks to Jon Pardi) haha. I’m super excited for this song because I’m dropping it on our wedding day (today) as a surprise for Nat. She loves this song and I think she thinks I’ll never put it out, so it’ll be a good surprise for her. Also feels good to release a song that’s true and authentic to my life currently. I hope y’all love it!”
Dylan recently debuted new songs “Grew Up Country” and “Empty Shotgun (Mr. Mechanic).” Earlier this year, he made waves with the release of his track, “Record High,” which Outsider called “arguably his best work yet,” noting that “very few country singers have seen their musical stock rise as quickly as Marlowe’s has in the last few years.” Additionally, MusicRow praised the track, calling it “Moody and haunting. The soundscape ripples with dobro, muted percussion and chimed electronics. His broken-hearted delivery aches with sincerity. Excellent work.”
Named one of Spotify’s 2023 Hot Country Artists to Watch, Dylan will be heading out on HARDY’s the mockingbird & THE CROW FALL TOUR this fall. For tour dates and tickets, visit DylanMarloweMusic.com.
DylanMarloweMusic.com | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube
JAMESON RODGERS CELEBRATES LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT ON “MINE FOR THE SUMMER”
CONFIRMED FOR FALL DATES WITH OLD DOMINION AND JORDAN DAVIS
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Platinum-selling road warrior Jameson Rodgers releases the perfect ode to the spark of a new romance today with “Mine For The Summer.” Listen HERE.
“’Mine For The Summer,’ ironically, is a song we wrote in the middle of the winter. I wrote this song with Brent Anderson, Smith Ahnquist, and Jake Mitchell. The song came from us talking about wanting to write a song that made us feel the same way ‘Iris’ from The Goo Goo Dolls did. I was heavily influenced by 2000’s rock almost as much as I was country,” said Rodgers. “Brent had this title saved in his phone that he had tried to write before but couldn’t figure it out until we started playing this groove. It was the last song we wrote on the retreat. It’s one of my favorite songs I’ve ever been a part of.”
Partially inspired by his own love story with wife Sarah Allison Turner, “Mine For The Summer” is the latest release from the noteworthy singer/songwriter, who has been steadily introducing new music since the release of his debut album Bet You’re From A Small Town. It follows the mournful “Built For Heartbreak,” which Country Central declared “undoubtedly one of the best we’ve heard from the Mississippi native.”
Following his standout support slot on HARDY’s the mockingbird & THE CROW Tour, Rodgers will join Old Dominion for their NO BAD VIBES Tour and Jordan Davis for his DAMN GOOD TIME TOUR on select dates throughout the fall. Rodgers will also appear at CMA Fest, Coastal Country Jam, and more.
JamesonRodgers.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
MORGAN WADE ANNOUNCES ANTICIPATED SOPHOMORE PROJECT “PSYCHOPATH” AVAILABLE AUG. 25
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Most artists don’t top Rolling Stone’s Best Country Albums of the year list with their debut album. But most artists aren’t Morgan Wade, who earned the top spot with her scathingly honest and raw 2021 LP Reckless. While Reckless, and its Top 30 lead single “Wilder Days,” busted down the doors and introduced Wade as a once-in-a-generation songwriter, she now readies her anticipated follow-up project, Psychopath, arriving Aug. 25 via Sony Music Nashville. Pre-save/pre-add/pre-order HERE and listen to the solo-written title track Friday, May 19.
“Regardless of what people say about Psychopath, I’m proud because I feel like it showcases where I’m at with my sophomore album,” said Wade. “I have no choice but to be authentic. And I have to feel what I feel. And right now, I’m really feeling the music.”
An astounding 13-track LP crafted with the help of notable musical talents, from A-list songwriters to studio musicians and Wade’s longtime producer-guru/song whisperer Sadler Vaden, Psychopath most excitingly finds Wade peeling back layers of her psyche like never before.
A relentless writer, Wade had penned what would become the album’s title track and as far back as the weeks leading up to Reckless’ release. A one-take meditation on “being so engrossed in someone, it’s like “What the hell was I doing before I met you? I don’t even fucking know!” Don’t let the title fool you: “When you look at the title, you don’t assume that’s a love song. But it is,” she said. “I kinda dig that.”
Wade has been no stranger to the road throughout the first quarter of 2023 on her headlining NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN TOUR, which sold out 35 shows for more than 40,000 tickets sold. She was a highlight at last month’s Stagecoach Festival, where the Desert Sun named her one of the “six women who dominated” the weekend. Wade appears on Diplo’s new album Thomas Wesley: Chapter 2 – Swamp Savant, will join Turnpike Troubadours and Eric Church for select dates throughout summer and fall, and is set for appearances at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Railbird, Austin City Limits, and more high-profile festivals before heading back to Europe for a fall headline run.
A Virginia native, Wade has broken away from the pack to become one of country music’s most compelling new voices. Possessed with a raw and unflinching voice anchored by a perfect tinge of twang; the rare ability to pen honest portraits of some of life’s most precious and painful and unpredictable moments; and an onstage vulnerability that so seamlessly breaks down the wall between fan and artist, Wade has quickly made her mark on the country music scene — and the music world at large – with nominations for ACM New Female Artist of the Year, Americana Music Association Emerging Act of the Year, and CMT Breakthrough Female Video of the Year.
For more information and tour dates, please visit MorganWade.com.
COREY KENT SCORES FIRST #1 AT COUNTRY RADIO WITH HIS PLATINUM CERTIFIED HIT “WILD AS HER”
Listen To “Wild As Her (Live From Cain’s Ballroom)” Here
NEW ALBUM BLACKTOP TO BE RELEASED ON JUNE 2ND, Pre-Order Here
NASHVILLE ALBUM RELEASE SHOW WITH SPECIAL GUEST DYLAN MARLOWE SET FOR JUNE 2ND AT BROOKLYN BOWL
TOURING WITH JASON ALDEAN THIS SUMMER
Nashville, TN – Oklahoma native/Texas based Corey Kent’s debut single “Wild As Her” reaches the top spot at country radio this week leaping from #4 to #1 on the Mediabase chart. The RIAA certified smash hit marks the first time Kent reached #1 on the chart while the track continues to stream consistently culminating in over 260 million on demand streams to date while the music video helped garner Kent the nomination for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year at the 2023 CMT Awards. “Wild As Her” was written by Kelly Archer, Brett Tyler, and Morgan Wallen and produced by Chris Farren. In celebration of the #1, Kent releases a special live version from his show at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Listen here.
“It’s been a hell of a ride to wind up here,” says Kent of his first #1. “You couldn’t write a crazier script: Getting dropped, moving to Texas, working in motorcycle shops & pavement companies to provide, playing a regular gig performing in a Mexican restaurant, praying for opportunity, touring relentlessly, & trying to defy all the odds… Today is bigger than my first #1. Today, I get to wave the pirate flag for all of us relentless dreamers from the mountain top, as an example that no matter how hard it gets, there is always hope. I’ll never forget this one.”
“Wild As Her” will be featured on Kent’s upcoming major label debut album, Blacktop, which is set to be released on June 2nd via RCA Nashville/Sony Music Nashville (pre-order here). The 10-track album features writing credits from Kent himself as well as Morgan Wallen, Ryan Hurd, Kelly Archer, Lydia Vaughan and more (full writers listed below) with production from Jay Joyce and Chris Farren. The album features already released tracks, “Man of the House,” “How You Know You Made It,” “Hood of that Car” and “Something’s Gonna Kill Me.”
Blacktop is an actual representation of various pieces of Kent’s life and the next evolution of his sound. With a better understanding of who he is as an artist, and as a man, the songs suggest more depth and substance than typical mainstream fare, showcasing key tenants of his life, while the production hits true to Kent’s live performance grit.
On the touring front, Kent kicked off 2023 joining Parker McCollum, played Tortuga Music Festival, made his debut at Stagecoach and is gearing up for his album release show on June 2nd in Nashville at Brooklyn Bowl on June 2nd ending release week with a performance at CMA Fest. Late this summer Kent will hit the road on Jason Aldean’s Highway Desperado Tour. For more information on the tour please visit: https://www.coreykentofficial.com/#tour.
Kent was named as a CMT Listen Up Artist for 2023, a Pandora Artist to Watch The Opry Next Stage Class of 2023, Sirius XM Class of 2022 and was nominated for an AIMP Nashville Country Awards for AIMP Rising Artist-Writer of the Year.
BLACKTOP Track List
1. Wild as Her (Kelly Archer/Brett Tyler/Morgan Wallen)
2. Long Story Short (Corey Kent/Lydia Vaughan)
3. Something’s Gonna Kill Me (Corey Kent/Austin Goodloe/Joybeth Taylor/Lydia Vaughan)
4. Man of the House (Corey Kent/Austin Goodloe/Joybeth Taylor/Lydia Vaughan)
5. Gone as You (Casey Brown/Matthew McGinn/Travis Wood)
6. BiC Flame (Corey Kent/Jack Hummel/Jon Sherwood)
7. Call It a Night (Aaron Eshuis/Ryan Hurd)
8. How You Know You Made It (Corey Kent/AJ Pruis/Smith Ahnquist)
9. Hood of That Car (Corey Kent/Blake Chaffin/Jack Hummel/Jacob Lutz)
10. Once or Twice (Corey Kent/Lee Miller)
Tracks 1 & 9 Produced by Chris Farren
Tracks 2-8 & 10 Produced by Jay Joyce
Official Website | TikTok | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube
NATE SMITH’S SELF-TITLED ALBUM ACHIEVES LARGEST ALBUM DEBUT FROM A NEW ARTIST THIS YEAR + LARGEST FULL LENGTH ALBUM DEBUT FROM A NEW ARTIST SINCE 2020
LAST WEEK’S ALBUM RELEASE CELEBRATION AT SKYDECK ON BROADWAY IN NASHVILLE FEATURED A MEET & GREET WITH HEALTHCARE HEROES
KICKED OFF OPENING STINT FOR THOMAS RHETT’S HOME TEAM TOUR 23 LAST WEEK
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Following the release of breakout songsmith and powerhouse vocalistNate Smith’s debut, self-titled album on April 28, the project has achieved the largest album debut from a new artist this year (2023), as well as the largest full length album debut from a new artist since 2020. The album hit #6 on Billboard’s Country albums chart and #30 overall on the Billboard Top 200. Listen to Nate Smith here.
Last week, Nate celebrated the release of his album with an electric show at Skydeck on Broadway in Nashville. Prior to his performance, he did a meet & greet with Healthcare Heroes as part of Musicians on Call, gifting them with Love Your Melon “Hero Caps” as a thank you for their continued sacrifices. Nate has a special connection to the healthcare community, as he was a nurse assistant for over a decade prior to pursuing music.
Nate, who is known for his “strong voice that grips a lyric with ferocity” (Billboard), is a nominee for NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR at the 58th ACM Awards, streaming live this Thursday, May 11 at 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT/5 p.m. PDT exclusively on Prime Video from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, TX. This nomination arrives on the heels of his 2023 CMT Awards nomination for BREAKTHROUGH MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR for his Platinum-certified No.1 hit “Whiskey On You.” The smash single topped the country radio charts for two weeks in a row earlier this year, following its record breaking six-week run at No. 1 on the country radio charts in Canada – making the song the longest running No. 1 country debut by a male vocalist in their chart history.
Following his first-ever appearance at Stagecoach on April 28, Nate took the stage at LA’s Desert 5 Spot on May 1 to celebrate the launch of his album with fans and industry partners. Later in the week, he kicked off his run with Thomas Rhett on his HOME TEAM TOUR 23, which will hit a total of 40 cities this summer, including stops in Boston, Chicago, Dallas and Nashville. For tour dates, tickets, and additional information, visit NateSmithOfficial.com.
NateSmithOfficial.com | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube
NEW MUSIC: ADAM DOLEAC REVEALS TWO SIDES OF THE “WRONG SIDE OF A SUNRISE”
STUDIO AND DEMO VERSIONS OF NEW TRACK, AVAILABLE NOW
CLOSES OUT HEADLINE BARSTOOL WHISKEY WONDERLAND TOUR WITH ELECTRIC SHOW IN KNOXVILLE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Rising singer-songwriter Adam Doleac is gifting fans with two different versions of his latest release, “Wrong Side Of A Sunrise.” On Friday, Doleac released a studio version on the song, and then today he followed it up with a stripped back, demo version. Listen to the studio version HERE and the demo version HERE.
Inspired by fans who fell in love with the raw, stripped back clip of “Wrong Side Of A Sunrise” he shared on his socials in recent months, Doleac decided to drop a second side of the song, to give fans the exact version they had been asking for.
“Wrong Side Of A Sunrise” arrives on the heels of Doleac’s Barstool Whiskey Wonderland (Wonderland Sides) EP, which consists of acoustic versions of several fan favorites, including “Famous,” “Coulda Loved You Longer,” and “Don’t It Sound Alright.” The acoustic EP along with the “Wrong Side Of A Sunrise” demo are nods to his fans who continuously requested stripped down versions of his music to highlight his smooth, honeyed vocals.
About his recent releases, Doleac said, “With this music, I decided to fully lean into who I am. Instead of writing songs to fit a certain mold, I’m writing songs that are 100% me. I’m going to do what I do best.” Doleac feels he’s at his best when he taps into his singer-songwriter vein, creating songs that are driven by clever lyrics with his soulful vocals.
Last fall, Doleac released his debut album, Barstool Whiskey Wonderland, which Billboard noted, “The 18-track collection shows off Doleac’s smooth, sultry vocals…The album also displays his strong storytelling craft–he co-wrote all but one of the tracks on the set.” He co-wrote every song on the album aside from his collaboration with Danielle Bradbery, “Fake Love,” which was penned by an all-star lineup made up of HARDY, Ryan Hurd, Maren Morris and Jordan Schmidt.
Last week, Adam wrapped his headlining BARSTOOL WHISKEY WONDERLAND TOUR in Knoxville, TN with an electric show. The tour, which included special guest, Alana Springsteen, hit sold out crowds in New York, Boston, Dallas, Houston, and Charlotte and others. He’ll also be performing at country’s biggest event of the year at CMA Fest on Thursday, June 8th as well as Bash on the Bay and Golden Sky Festival later this year.
AdamDoleac.com | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter
KARLEY SCOTT COLLINS ARRIVES WITH HER COMPELLING DEBUT EP “HANDS ON THE WHEEL”
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Sony Music Nashville singer-songwriter Karley Scott Collins proudly introduces her debut EP, Hands on the Wheel, available everywhere today. With a strong creative vision, Collins’ artistry shines in every part of this project through her involvement in writing, co-producing the title track, and even hand painting her cover art. Overflowing with honest storytelling, soulful grit, and themes that explore coping with the chaos of romance in your twenties, fans will be entangled in a world of emotions from Collins’ major label debut project.
“These songs are pieces of my heart that I’m putting back together in a collection of songs, and I hope that everyone who listens can find a piece of their heart in it too,” Collins shares about the EP. “Love, heartbreak and everything in between is such a rollercoaster, it feels like sometimes all you can do is keep your hands on the wheel.”
Collins shines as a co-writer on all five songs and even had her hand in co-producing the title track with Nathan Chapman (Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, Keith Urban), a facet of creative control she enjoyed. Every aspect of this collection aims to reveal a deeper understanding of the passion Collins has for the music she creates and releases, even painting the cover art the way only “a true visionary” (Country Swag) can. Throughout the project, Collins’ unique, captivating vocal helps to elevate the compelling narrative.
Each song touches on a different shade and emotion of what it means to go from love to heartbreak. The title track kicks off with the feeling of trying to drive away your emotions and outrun a breaking heart. “Brain On Love” highlights infatuation and the early stages of a relationship. As things shift, “Favorite Perfume” emotes the feeling of someone’s memory lingering long after they’re gone, and how hard it can be to stop your heart from loving someone. “Loose Thread” depicts the heart-racing adrenaline and pain of seeing an old flame in person for the first time after the relationship ends. Finally, “Heavenly” takes listeners through the euphoric feeling of being secure and truly happy.
Hands on the Wheel track listing
1. “Hands on the Wheel” // Written by Karley Scott Collins, Nathan Chapman, Natalie Hemby. Produced by Nathan Chapman and Karley Scott Collins
2. “Brain on Love” // Written by Karley Scott Collins, Summer Overstreet, Cameron Bartolini, Liam Kevany. Produced by Dann Huff
3. “Favorite Perfume” // Written by Karley Scott Collins, Brock Berryhill, Brett James. Produced by Brock Berryhill
4. “Loose Thread” // Written by Karley Scott Collins, Brock Berryhill, Luke Laird. Produced by Dann Huff
5. “Heavenly” // Written by Karley Scott Collins, Nathan Chapman. Produced by Nathan Chapman.
After wrapping last year on the road with Nate Smith, Collins will make her CMA Fest debut this June as she ramps up for a busy year ahead. Keep up with Collins on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and her website.
KarleyScottCollins.com | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube
COLBY ACUFF SIGNS WITH SONY MUSIC NASHVILLE
MAJOR LABEL DEBUT ALBUM WESTERN WHITE PINES RELEASING JUNE 9
NEW SONG “PLAYING GOD AGAIN” AVAILABLE NOW
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Idaho native Colby Acuff has signed with Sony Music Nashville and will release his major label debut album Western White Pines June 9. Pre-save/pre-add/pre-order HERE.
“When I started playing music, I never thought that I’d get a record deal. I’ve always had the mentality that we’d have to go out and do it all on our own. What I realize now is that there are some amazing people in the business who truly understand me,” said Acuff. “I’m very excited to announce that I’ll be working with Sony Music Nashville. I feel as though they truly hear me out and understand what my intentions are going forward in this industry.”
A fourth generation Idaho native with a rugged spirit true to his mountain home, honest-to-a-fault lyrics and a sound as raw as the remote wilderness, Acuff’s untamed brand of country stands proudly apart in today’s format, pure and untouched by modern gimmicks. From two-stepping honky tonk anthems with a frontier philosopher’s eye, to serene campfire confessions, full of spiritual scar tissue and road-weary wisdom, every track on his first three independently released albums was written entirely solo. Working with acclaimed producer/engineer Eddie Spear (Zach Bryan, Brandi Carlile, Cody Jinks) Western White Pines was recorded with a new team of top-flight talent at Nashville’s Sound Emporium. Another batch of gritty, solo-written songs – plus the first ever co-writes of a promising career – it will help introduce a country talent as wild and free as the Idaho mountains themselves.
“Western White Pines is a project full of some of my favorite songs. The record is unique in all aspects of the word,” said Acuff. “You will never hear the same song twice, but you will know that it’s a Colby Acuff record.”
Today, Acuff releases the latest glimpse at the project, “Playing God Again,” a fiddle-heavy barn stomper co-written with Dwight Baker.
“‘Playing God Again’ is an observation of change. I feel like everybody right now either wants change or can’t stand change,” observed Acuff. “In reality everything changes, but we can’t control when or by how much. You can’t stop change, and so ‘Playing God Again’ is a message of letting go. Stop worrying about things you can’t control.”
Acuff has earned nearly 60 million on-demand streams on his three independent albums, traditionally releasing one full project every year. The untamed new talent has toured with the likes of Lainey Wilson, 49 Winchester, Flatland Calvary and more and is appearing on select Whiskey Jam Tailgate shows ahead of Luke Combs’ summer stadium dates.
He is represented by Make Wake Artists and WME.