Zac Brown Band Unveils 'Greatest Hits So Far…'

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Zac Brown Band


Southern Ground and Atlantic Records have announced the release of Zac Brown Band’s Greatest Hits So Far…, the band’s first career anthology. The 14-track collection is available now for pre-order on the iTunes Store and arrives everywhere on Nov. 10.
The project collects  Zac Brown Band’s momentous run of 11 No. 1 Country singles, including 2x RIAA platinum debut, “Chicken Fried” and chart-topping songs including “As She’s Walking Away (Feat. Alan Jackson),” “Knee Deep (feat. Jimmy Buffett),” and “Goodbye In Her Eyes.”
The band is currently traveling on their “Great American Road Trip Tour.”
Greatest Hits So Far… is currently available for pre-order on iTunes.

iHeartRadio Coming To Android Wear Smartwatches

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android weariHeartRadio will soon be wearable.
The digital radio service has teamed with Android Wear smartwatches, beginning Oct. 15. Android Wear users can use the watch as a remote control. Users will still need to plug headphones into their smartphones to listen, though the watch will allow them create new stations via voice search, and give a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” to new songs.
Google’s Android Wear also runs Google Play.
iHeartRadio marks the first musical partnership for Android Wear. Meanwhile, Pandora is available on Pebble Smartwatches, while Samsung uses its own Milk Music on its Gear smartwatches. Apple is slated to release a smartwatch next year.

Alan's Blank Canvas, Night One at the CMA Theater

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Pictured (L-R): Alan Jackson and Kyle Young, director of Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Nathan Baugh/courtesy of Alan Jackson

Pictured (L-R): Alan Jackson and Kyle Young, director of Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Nathan Baugh/courtesy of Alan Jackson


“What you hear tonight will only happen once,” said the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Kyle Young, welcoming Alan Jackson’s sold-out crowd to the 800-seat CMA Theater.
Yesterday evening (Oct. 8) was the first of Jackson’s two-night residency, part of a CMHoF tradition where artists who have contributed a significant body of work to American popular music are given a “blank canvas” for their performance. Previous residency artists such as Connie Smith, Kris Kristofferson, Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs have included special guests or embraced a listening room vibe, but Jackson brought his full stage show complete with 8-person band, video wall, and of course, his hits.
Selections from Jackson’s 50 top-10 songs filled his 2.5-hour set. The legend even previewed a new song to a standing ovation. “Angels and Alcohol” is one of 10 songs he is preparing for a 2015 release on EMI Nashville/ACR.
Relying on his wife Denise in the balcony, Jackson candidly recounted stories of his family, his early days as a demo singer on Travis Tritt’s “Country Club,” and inspiration behind records that went on to sell nearly 60 million units worldwide. “You know I’m 55, turn 56 next week,” said Jackson when he lost track of a thought on stage. Among numerous titles, he recalled:
Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images


• “Gone Country”—I about always kick off my shows with that song. Bob McDill wrote that song when Country was taking off after ’89.
• “Home”—”Best I can remember, this is the first song I wrote. It’s a true story,” he recalled of the log home still standing on land given from their parents.
• “I Don’t Even Know Your Name”—We always call it “Toothless.” Denise’s brother always pitched the title when we would go home at Christmas. I gave him and his son songwriter credit on it.
• “Wanted” and “All Over Again”—written in the same day in the rain in Pine Bluff, Ark.
• “She’s Got The Rhythm (I Got The Blues)”—One of three songs written with Randy Travis after his then-wife and manager lured Jackson with cornbread to their bus to write. The session also resulted in “Better Class of Losers” and “Forever Together.”
• “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)”—I didn’t write that, God just sent it down through me. Faith, Hope and Love are just from The Bible.
• “Good Time”—I got the idea after watching my girls in cheerleading.
The open-to-the-public event included industry executives seated alongside fans who cheered with homemade signs and, during the encore, sought autographs on boots, programs and even a doll. Of course, Jackson obliged as he is known to on his road show.
One noticeable departure from his arena show was candid conversation with the audience. The crowd replied in asking, “How are you holding up?” Jackson said, “I’m holding up…This is a beautiful little room but it sure does get quiet after y’all stop talking.”
It is a true superstar whose dexterity transcends from an arena to a small venue. Jackson has long treated audiences of all sizes to performances of his masterclass catalog of hits. Although complaining of his ragweed allergy, Jackson was in top performance in a room that reflects vocal honesty. But above all, the truth of his lyric is most mesmerizing and for that, he’s already in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Jackson’s second sold out Artist-In-Residence performance with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is slated for the same venue, on Oct. 22. Alan Jackson: 25 Years of Keepin’ It Country will be on display upstairs, there, until March 30, 2015.

Industry Ink: The Agency Group, CMHoF, Young Country, Amped, Live Nation, GAC

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the lacs nothing in particular albumThe Agency Group has signed Average Joes band THE LACS.
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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum‘s Troubadour Society will host the third annual Nightfall at the Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 14 from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. The evening will feature music, complimentary beer, wine and hors doeuvres, as well as after-hours access to the museum’s galleries. RSVPs should be sent by Oct. 10 to [email protected].
• • • •
Country music video show Young Country will debut on its new home on BlueHighways TV tomorrow (Oct. 9) at 6:30 p.m. CT with special guests The Roys. The Tyler, Texas based show is produced by Jeff Miller, and Ruth Ann Wood serves as Dir. of Marketing and Syndication.
• • • •
Amped is a new independent distribution company under the Alliance umbrella. Big & Rich and Kobalt Music worked with Amped on the duo’s latest release. Among others using the distributor are Compass Records, Lenny Kravitz and Band Of Horses. In a recent week, Amped was working with six releases on Billboard‘s Top 200 chart. Amped is led by Dean Tabaac, with Pip Smith as VP of Sales, Jocelynn Pryor as Dir. of Marketing, and Tony Timpano handling Business and Legal Affairs/General Counsel.
• • • •
live nation logo111Live Nation Entertainment is looking to buy a 51 percent stake in C3 Presents, the promoter behind Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits, reports the New York Times. The deal values Austin-based C3 at around $250 million. In recent years, Live Nation also acquired EDM promoters Cream, Hard and Insomniac.
• • • •
Rising band Chasin’ Crazy will debut a new series, Chasin’ Crazy, on Great American Country on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 1 p.m. CST. The preview is available on YouTube.

NATD Honors Gala To Include Rob Beckham, Michael W. Smith, Charlie Daniels

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NATD_Honors_logo_smThe Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) has announced six industry leaders who will be recognized at the 4th annual NATD Honors Gala, scheduled for Nov. 11, 2014 at the Hermitage Hotel. Honorees include Governor Bill Haslam; Rob Beckham, Partner and Co-Head of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment; Vanderbilt University’s Head Baseball Coach Tim Corbin; Founder and CEO of Parallel Entertainment J.P. Williams; Demetria Kalodimos, WSMV News Anchor and Reporter; Contemporary Christian artist Michael W. Smith; and legendary country artist Charlie Daniels.
The Gala kicks off with a reception at 6:00 PM, followed by dinner and the Awards Ceremony at 7:15 PM. Ticket information may be found at www.ticketfly.com.
The 2014 Honorees were selected by the NATD Board of Directors, led by President Steve Tolman of LogiCom. “These individuals, from a variety of professions, reflect the qualities which make Nashville the exciting, entertainment and vital city that it is today.  They lead, not only in their areas of expertise, but in their continuing support of education and scholarship, which is one of NATD’s major goals” Tolman said.
Past honorees include:
2013-Bernie Cahill, Tom Condon, Chaz Corzine, Martina McBride, Kevin Neal, and Bob Romeo
2012- Mike Fisher, Clint Higham, John Huie, George Jones, and Alan Valentine
2011- Alabama, Tony Conway, Mayor Karl Dean, James H. Gosnell Jr., and Barry Trotz

Artist Updates: Montgomery Gentry, Hunter Hayes, Little Big Town

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Montgomery Gentry


Digital music platform GhostTunes will offer an exclusive bundle from duo Montgomery Gentry, to help raise awareness and money for breast cancer research.
The bundle, which sells for $19.99, includes Montgomery Gentry’s single “Headlights,” and a “Check Your Headlights” t-shirt.
All profits from bundle sales benefit Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, an initiative of the American Cancer Society.

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Hunter Hayes. Photo: Kristin Barlowe

Hunter Hayes. Photo: Kristin Barlowe

Hunter Hayes has teamed with Fandango to offer fans an opportunity to meet Hunter and attend a concert on his upcoming Tattoo (Your Name) Tour, when they purchase tickets for Relativity Studios’ feature film The Best of Me, which hits theaters nationwide Oct. 17. Hayes’ original composition, “Dream Girl,” is included in the film’s soundtrack, which released Oct. 7 on EMI Nashville.

The “The Best of Me Sweepstakes” will open Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. PST on Fandango, and will close Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. PST.

Hayes’ Tattoo (Your Name) Tour will launch with a solo show at New York City’s Best Buy Theatre on Oct. 28. WMN labelmates Dan+Shay and The Railers will join Hayes on subsequent tour dates.

                  • • •

Little Big Town had a lot to celebrate when they recently stopped by CMT to catch up with Cody Alan. The group chatted about their highly-anticipated new album, Pain Killer, which hits stores Oct. 21, and their recent invitation to the Grand Ole Opry. The group is set to headline a 15-city tour beginning in November.

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Pictured (L-R): Phillip Sweet, Karen Fairchild, Cody Alan, Kimberly Schlapman, and Jimi Westbrook.

Rock Hall Nominees Revealed

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rock hall nominees 2015Nominees for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015 have been revealed. To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. The 2015 nominees had to release their first recording no later than 1989. The nominees are:

  • The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
  • Chic
  • Green Day
  • Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
  • Kraftwerk
  • The Marvelettes
  • N.W.A.
  • Nine Inch Nails
  • Lou Reed
  • The Smiths
  • The Spinners
  • Sting
  • Stevie Ray Vaughan
  • War
  • Bill Withers

“We are pleased to present this group of nominees, as they represent the myriad places where rock and roll converges with blues, electronic, dance, Motown, R&B, funk and other genres,” said Joel Peresman, President and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “Rock and roll incorporates the styles of so many different kinds of music and that’s what makes this group of nominees – and this art form – so powerful and unique.” The Foundation’s nominating committee selects nominees each year in the Performer category.

Ballots will be sent to an international voting body of more than 700 artists, historians and members of the music industry.

Fans can participate in the induction selection process. Beginning October 9, 2014, and continuing through December 9, 2014, fans can visit www.rockhall.com to cast votes for induction. The top five artists, as selected by the public, will comprise a “fans’ ballot” that will be tallied along with the other ballots to choose the 2015 inductees.  

Inductees will be announced in December and the induction ceremony will be held April 18, 2015, in Cleveland, the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Public ticket sale information will be announced at a later date.

Read about the nominees, the induction process or revisit MusicRow critic Bobby Karl’s trip to the 2012 induction ceremony.

Dallas Davidson Celebrates 2014 CMA Song of the Year Nomination

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Pictured (L-R): Dallas Davidson, Rob Hatch and Lee Brice Photo: Beth Gwinn

Pictured (L-R): Dallas Davidson, Rob Hatch and Lee Brice
Photo: Beth Gwinn


Dallas Davidson, along with co-writers and friends Lee Brice and Rob Hatch, celebrated their 2014 CMA Song of the Year nomination for the RIAA platinum certified No. 1 hit “I Don’t Dance” at East Ivy Mansion in Nashville, TN on Oct. 7.
Davidson, who received his 19th No. 1 in August, was surprised by Troy Tomlinson and the Sony/ATV team with a plaque commemorating his “19 No. 1s and Counting,” adding that if No. 1s were counted by sales, it’d be at least Davidson’s 38th No. 1. Representatives from BMI and Davidson’s management team were there to celebrate Davidson as well as his brother, sister and wife, who is expecting their first child.
Davidson made a heartfelt speech expressing his appreciation for the support he receives from his family, his team and Nashville as a whole.
Davidson is currently out on the road with Ben Hayslip and Rhett Akins, known collectively as the Peach Pickers, finishing up the last leg of Luke Bryan’s annual Farm Tour.
Dallas Davidson with Troy Tomlinson and Sony ATV Team Photo: Beth Gwinn

Dallas Davidson with Troy Tomlinson and Sony/ATV Team. Photo: Beth Gwinn

CMA Award Nominees To Play Songwriter Series

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CMA-Songwriter-Series-Nashville-Brandy-Clark-Jaren-JohnstonAs part of the events and activities leading up to the 48th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 5, Brandy Clark and Jaren Johnston will perform during the CMA Songwriters Series in Nashville at the CMHoF’s CMA Theater on Tuesday, Nov. 4 (9:00 PM/CT). Additional songwriters to be announced soon.
Clark is nominated twice for the 48th annual awards, one for New Artist of the Year and another for Song of the Year (co-writing Kacey Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow”). The 2014 MusicRow Breakthrough Artist of the Year also co-wrote No. 1 hits for Miranda Lambert (“Mama’s Broken Heart”) and The Band Perry (“Better Dig Two”). She will embark on Eric Church’s The Outsiders World Tour beginning Oct. 16.
Johnston also boasts two 2014 CMA Awards nominations: Single of the Year (co-producing Dierks Bentley’s “Drunk On A Plane”) as well as Album of the Year (co-producing Bentley’s Riser). He also wrote 2014 CMA Single and Musical Event of the Year nominated song “Meanwhile Back at Mama’s,” recorded by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. Johnston has penned No. 1 songs for Keith Urban (“You Gonna Fly”) and Jake Owen (“Beachin’”). He is a member of Big Machine Records recording group The Cadillac Three, who are currently on Owen’s Days Of Gold Tour.
Tickets for the Nov. 4 CMA Songwriters Series are currently on sale for $20-30 at CMASongwritersSeries.com.

Artist Pics: Kellie Pickler, Maddie & Tae, Lucy Hale

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Kellie Pickler's halftime performance at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.

Kellie Pickler’s halftime performance at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.


Kellie Pickler delivered the halftime performance last Sunday, October 5 during the Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers game at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Supporting October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Pickler was joined on the field by 150 Breast Cancer Survivors and those who have been affected by the disease. She was also accompanied by her best friend Summer Miller, a cancer survivor who joined Pickler and the NFL in celebrating life by taking on the honored role of the “Keep Pounding” drummer for the game, which took place right before kickoff.
Pickler released a limited edition of her album The Woman I Am on pink vinyl September 30, 2014 in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month. A portion of the proceeds from the album sales goes to Gilda’s Club, a community organization for people living with cancer, their families and friends.
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Maddie & Tae have kept the focus on their fans, enlisting them to reveal their self-titled EP cover art this afternoon across social media platforms.
 
Maddie & Tae showcased a hearty mix of sweet and spitfire on the November 4 digital release on Dot Records, a newly established imprint underneath the Big Machine Label Group. Already creating buzz at radio with their Top 15-and-climbing debut single, “Girl In A Country Song” boasts over 8.9 million views online and has consistently remained in the Top 5 Country videos on iTunes after escalating to the top spot. 
 
TRACKLISTING:
1.  “Girl In A Country Song” (Maddie Marlow, Taylor Dye, Aaron Scherz) 
2.  “Sierra” (Maddie Marlow, Taylor Dye, Aaron Scherz) 
3.  “Fly” (Maddie Marlow, Taylor Dye, Tiffany Vartanyan) 
4.  “Your Side of Town” (Maddie Marlow, Taylor Dye, Heather Morgan, Blair Daly) 
• • •
Lucy Hale performs "Lie A Little Better" on The Ellen Degeneres Show.

Lucy Hale performs “Lie A Little Better” on The Ellen Degeneres Show.


Yesterday, rising country music singer and Pretty Little Liars star Lucy Hale appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Fans were treated to a fun “Is Lucy A Liar?” interview as well Lucy’s performance of her brand new single, “Lie A Little Better.”