Las Vegas Festival Reveals Lineup For “Next From Nashville” Stage

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Route 91 logo

The Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas has added a number of rising artists and songwriters from Nashville to its second stage, known as “Next From Nashville.”

The additions include Courtney Cole, Jordan Davis, Russell Dickerson, Seth Ennis, Haley Georgia, Ryan Hurd, LANco, Jon Langston, Aaron Lewis, William Michael Morgan, Tyler Reeve, Royal Bliss, Runaway June, Aubrie Sellers, Lucie Silvas, Tara Thompson, Aaron Watson and Brett Young.

The festival has also added Dan + Shay, Brooke Eden, LOCASH and Randy Rogers Band to the event, scheduled for Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 at the Las Vegas Village.

Shane McAnally Traces Career At CMHoF Poets And Prophets Event

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Pictured (L-R): Songwriter Josh Osborne, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young, songwriter Paul Overstreet, McAnally, former Poet and Prophet honoree Kye Fleming, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Michael Gray, former Poet and Prophet honoree Roger Murrah, and singer/songwriter Kacey Musgraves. Photo by Kelli Dirks, CK Photo

Pictured (L-R): Songwriter Josh Osborne, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young, songwriter Paul Overstreet, McAnally, former Poets and Prophets honoree Kye Fleming, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Michael Gray, former Poets and Prophets honoree Roger Murrah, and singer/songwriter Kacey Musgraves. Photo by Kelli Dirks, CK Photo

Songwriter Shane McAnally joined the Poets and Prophets series at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 13). The event was part of the museum’s quarterly program that celebrates songwriters that have made a significant and lasting contribution to country music.

Pictured (L-R): Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne. Photo: Kelli Dirks, CK Photo

Pictured (L-R): Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne. Photo: Kelli Dirks, CK Photo

Moderated by Country Music Hall of Fame historian Michael Gray, the program recounted McAnally’s journey through photos, videos, and live performances of some of McAnally’s biggest hits, including a surprise acoustic rendition of “Merry Go Round,” performed by Kacey Musgraves, with whom he and Josh Osborne wrote the song.

Pictured (L-R): Joshn Osborne, Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally. Photo: Kelli Dirks, CK Photo

Pictured (L-R): Joshn Osborne, Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally. Photo: Kelli Dirks, CK Photo

Former Poets and Prophets honorees Kye Fleming and Richard Murrah as well as songwriter Paul Overstreet were also in attendance.

Kacey Musgraves. Photo by Kelli Dirks, CK Photo.

Kacey Musgraves. Photo by Kelli Dirks, CK Photo.

IBMA Awards Name Sierra Hull, Dan Tyminski As Hosts

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Pictured (L-R): Sierra Hull, Dan Tyminski

Pictured (L-R): Sierra Hull, Dan Tyminski

Bluegrass musicians Sierra Hull and Dan Tyminski will host the 27th International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards on Sept. 29 at the Duke Energy Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“Sierra and Dan both have long and respected histories in the IBMA community, so it’s a thrill to have them together on stage to host this year’s awards,” said Amy Reitnouer, executive director of The Bluegrass Situation, who returns as producer of the IBMA Awards for the third year. “We’ve got plenty of memorable moments being planned out for the show, and there’s no doubt that these two will bring class, charisma, and chemistry to the stage and serve as great emcees!”

In addition to acknowledging the year’s outstanding talent and achievements, new Hall of Fame inductees will also be honored. The inductees are late guitarist Clarence White and Rounder Records founders Bill Nowlin, Marian Leighton Levy and Ken Irwin.

Mandolin player and songwriter Sierra Hull released her newest album, Weighted Mind, earlier this year. A skilled guitarist and mandolin player, Dan Tyminski has released two solo albums as well as projects with Lonesome River Band, Alison Krauss & Union Station, and the Soggy Bottom Boys.

The IBMA Awards are part of the organization’s World of Bluegrass 2016 event, which takes place Sept. 27–Oct. 1 in Raleigh.

Artist Updates: Cole Swindell, Kelsea Ballerini, Jeannie Seely

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Cole Swindell Makes One Billion Impressions

Cole Swindell

Cole Swindell’s single “You Should Be Here” has surpassed 1 billion audience impressions (Mediabase audience: 979 million, on-demand audio/video streams: 53 million, digital track sales: 714,000+). Those figures include 25 million streams of the video on his own YouTube channel. The single has achieved more than 1 million track equivalent sales. His new single is “Middle of a Memory.”

 

Kelsea Ballerini Will Sing On Good Morning America

Kelsea Ballerini

Kelsea Ballerini

Kelsea Ballerini will sing “Peter Pan”on ABC’s Good Morning America Summer Concert Series on Friday (Aug. 19). In addition, a re-air of her Jimmy Kimmel Live! outdoor stage performance will be broadcast on Monday night (Aug. 15) on ABC.

 

Jeannie Seely Takes The Wheel On “The Test Drive”

Jeannie Seely, The Test Drive
Jeannie Seely filmed a segment of The Test Drive and discussed her Grammy win for “Don’t Touch Me” as well as her career at the Grand Ole Opry. Seely will mark her 50th year as a Grand Ole Opry member next year. See the video.

 

Ashley Sidoti Lands National Promotion Role At The Valory Music Co.

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Ashley Sidoti

Ashley Sidoti

Ashley Sidoti has been named National Director of Radio Promotion for The Valory Music Co.

Most recently serving as Southeast Director of Marketing and Promotion, she will continue to build relationships between radio and the label’s talented artist roster of Brantley Gilbert, Thomas Rhett, Justin Moore, Eli Young Band, Tara Thompson and Levi Hummon.

“It’s been a pleasure to see Ashley’s growth with The Valory Music Co.,” said Valory’s Senior Vice President of Promotion George Briner. “Since she started with the company as an intern in 2008, Ashley has grown through the ranks beginning as the imprint’s Label Coordinator. With her passion for music, creative ideas and experience in the business, Ashley is a great fit to be the National Director.”

“I am appreciative of the incredible opportunities I’ve been given to learn from the ground up at BMLG, even from my time as an intern in 2008,” said Sidoti. “I’m so grateful for Scott and George’s support and confidence in me. We are all incredibly proud of everything we have built at Valory, thus far, and I’m even more excited to be a part of our growth into the future.”

Sidoti can be reached at 615-574-7827 or via [email protected].

CBS Sports Teams With Garth Brooks For SEC Football Games

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Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks

CBS Sports is teaming up with Garth Brooks for SEC On CBS broadcasts this season.

Brooks’ new song, “Pure Adrenaline,” will debut when the SEC On CBS broadcasts kick off Sept. 3 with UCLA at Texas A&M. Customized lyrics will be used each week, along with elements from an original video shoot featuring Brooks. The track will help kick off CBS Sports’ SEC Game of the Week broadcasts on Saturdays throughout the 2016 season.

Brooks made the announcement via Facebook Live on Monday night (Aug. 15) during his weekly web series, Inside Studio G: A Monday Night Conversation.

Ty Bentli Replacing Blair Garner On ‘America’s Morning Show’

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Ty Bentli

Ty Bentli

Cumulus Media has named Ty Bentli as the new co-host of America’s Morning Show, replacing Blair Garner. Bentli will join current co-hosts Kelly Ford and Chuck Wicks starting on Sept. 6.

Blair Garner

Blair Garner

Garner will host the new overnight show The Blair Garner Show, debuting this fall. The show marks a return to overnight programming for Garner, who achieved success as host of the long-running nationally syndicated overnight show, After Midnite, which aired from 1993-2013.

Garner’s new overnight show will replace Kickin’ It With Kix. However, show hosts Kix Brooks and Suzanne Alexander will stay on with American Country Countdown, syndicated by Westwood One nationally. Brooks inked an extended multi-year partnership agreement with Cumulus last week.

Mike McVay, Senior Vice President, Content and Programming/Cumulus Media, said: “These are exciting and dramatic moves. We are fortunate to have such brilliant talent in our company. Blair first approached me a couple months ago with the desire to recreate his successful overnight show on a grand scale and the search for his replacement in the morning began. Ty Bentli has been a part of our company for the past two years as a morning talent in D.C. and has already worked with Kelly and Chuck on the Red Carpet at our award show broadcasts. Kix will continue with his highly successful American Country Countdown and Suzanne Alexander will continue to partner with him. The NASH campus is a stable of talent and superstars.”

Zach Crowell Collects 6 MusicRow No. 1 Challenge Coins

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Pictured (L-R): Chris Van Belkom (a.k.a The Falcon), Vice President, Combustion Music; Zach Crowell; Kenley Flynn, Creative Director, Combustion Music.

Pictured (L-R): Chris Van Belkom (a.k.a The Falcon), Vice President, Combustion Music; Zach Crowell; Kenley Flynn, Creative Director, Combustion Music.

Songwriter Zach Crowell visited the MusicRow office to accept six MusicRow No. 1 Challenge Coins on Friday (Aug. 12), for hits ranging from “See You Tonight” to “Church Bells.” Crowell is signed to a joint venture between Combustion Music, Tape Room Music and Warner/Chappell Music.

Since 2014, the coins have been presented to every artist and songwriter that achieves a No. 1 single on MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart.

The six coins represent the following songs: “See You Tonight,” recorded by Scotty McCreery; “Cop Car,” recorded by Keith Urban, “House Party” and “Break Up in a Small Town,” recorded by Sam Hunt; and “Heartbeat” and “Church Bells,” recorded by Carrie Underwood.

Rascal Flatts Achieve 10 Million Tickets Sold

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Pictured (L-R): Jay DeMarcus, Joe Don Rooney, Jim Koplik (President Live Nation Connecticut / Upstate NY) and Gary LeVox

Pictured (L-R): Jay DeMarcus, Joe Don Rooney, Jim Koplik (President Live Nation Connecticut / Upstate  New York) and Gary LeVox. Photo: Big Machine Records

Rascal Flatts have reached a touring milestone of 10 million tickets sold. The band accepted a commemorative ticket at their show in Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday (Aug. 13) to recognize the occasion.

The trio debuted on the country chart in 2000 with “Prayin’ For Daylight.” Their newest single, “I Like the Sound of That,” became their 30th Top 10 hit and reached No. 1 this summer.

Their current Rhythm and Roots Tour continues through the fall with guests Kelsea Ballerini and Chris Lane.

Brad Paisley Announces Return Of Country Nation College Tour

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Brad Paisley

Brad Paisley

Brad Paisley is back on campus with another Country Nation College Tour. He will bring his free concerts to a new group of IMG College partners this fall with support from presenting sponsor Frontier Communications.

The tour will debut with a free show on Sunday, Sept. 4, in downtown Orlando, Florida, ahead of the Camping World Kickoff Game featuring Ole Miss vs. Florida State. Paisley will then travel to two IMG College partner universities during the month of September.

Paisley returns to his home state for an on-campus show at West Virginia University on Friday, Sept 9, in advance of the Mountaineers’ match-up with Youngstown State the following day. He will also perform at The Ohio State University on Thursday, Sept. 15.

Additional stops on the tour will be announced later this month. More than 120,000 fans attended Paisley’s free Country Nation College Tour concerts in 2015.

“Frontier is excited to be partnering with Brad Paisley and to announce the first stops on the tour,” said Cecilia McKenney, EVP and Chief Customer Officer of Frontier Communications. “Music and college sports are a winning combination, and we’re thrilled to help bring this experience to fans across the country. Sponsoring the Country Nation College Tour is the perfect opportunity for us to show appreciation to our customers.”

Paisley’s “Country Nation” single debuted in 2015, and was written by Paisley and his longtime collaborators Chris DuBois and Kelley Lovelace.

IMG, which serves more than 200 universities nationwide, is a division of WME | IMG, which also represents Paisley and brokered the college tour deal.