Travis Denning Announces Heartbeat Of A Small Town Tour

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Travis Denning will launch his 2019 “Heartbeat Of A Small Town Tour” in February. The rising country artist kicks off the headlining tour in Rome, Georgia, on Feb. 1 and will visit Charlotte, Birmingham, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and more through March 30.

“2018 was an unbelievable year that showed me just how many amazing country music fans are out there,” says Denning. “Seeing them singing along to ‘David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs’ was surreal, so I can’t think of a better way to kick off 2019 than to go right back and see them all again.”

Tickets to the new shows go on sale beginning tomorrow (Dec. 14) at travisdenning.com.

Spurred by his debut single “David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs,” Denning has recently been named an Artist To Watch by Rolling Stone, HITS Daily Double, NY Country Swag, Pandora, Taste of Country and more. He was also just selected as a CMA Kixstart Artist Scholarship recipient and will receive unique opportunities to participate in CMA-related events as well as connect with industry professionals as part of the inaugural program. Additionally, Denning was tapped to be part of Opry NextStage alongside Riley Green, Tegan Marie, and Tenille Townes, and the collaboration will include live performances, strategic marketing support and short-form documentary style storytelling created by Opry Entertainment’s content team.

ACM Lifting Lives Announces New Executive Director Lyndsay Cruz

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Photo: lyndsaycruz.com

The ACM Lifting Lives Board of Directors and its Search Committee has announced Lyndsay Cruz will join the organization beginning Jan. 2, 2019. This position is based out of the Academy of Country Music (ACM) headquarters in Encino, California and reports to ACM Lifting Lives President and Academy of Country Music CEO, Pete Fisher.

“Lyndsay has well-established relationships with top creative professionals and firms across the entertainment sector and more than a decade of fundraising and event experience. We are excited to welcome her to ACM Lifting Lives and look forward to supporting her success in all our endeavors,” said Paul Barnabee, Vice Chairman of ACM Lifting Lives.

“ACM Lifting Lives has a wonderful history of making a difference, because of the amazing contributions of the country music community,” said Cruz. “I am honored and excited to contribute to the next chapter of the organization’s future.”

Cruz, a seasoned professional experienced in engaging celebrities in charitable affairs, began her career as a political appointee under George W. Bush’s White House where she worked as an Advance Representative for the Secretary of Education, Secretary of Treasury and the Vice President. She then went on to the international non-profit Oxfam America, where she created and managed their first-ever public figures ambassador program for 13 years. She left Oxfam to independently consult for a number of non-profit organizations, including two of the most successful fundraisers in New Orleans’ history, including leading the talent team of Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Galas in 2012 and 2014, and other major events and fundraising efforts for The Malala Fund, Emily’s List, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Girl Rising, The World Bank, Harlem Village Academies and many others.

She brings expertise from a range of fields, specifically talent outreach and recruitment, media and public relations, and logistics management to the newly created role of ACM Lifting Lives Executive Director. Cruz will lead and collaborate with stakeholders to further the mission of improving lives through the power of music, and execute ACM Lifting Lives 501(c)(3) California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation, as well as organizational relationships, to meet qualifying needs.

Beginning Jan. 2, 2019, Cruz can be reached at [email protected].

Drake White And The Big Fire To Release Four-Song Live EP

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Drake White and the Big Fire will digitally release a four-song live EP on Friday (Dec. 14). The EP will contain three previously-unreleased tracks.

“We love playing live because we get to connect – it’s all about the people in the room. The audience is like another instrument,” White says. “The crowd noise is as much a part of the song as the song itself. Spontaneity and imperfection are two ingredients in the gumbo that give it that spice, that fire.”

Drake White And The Big Fire Live track list:

“Raised Right”
“All Would Be Right with the World”
“The Coast Is Clear”
“It Feels Good”

Alan Jackson To Hit The Road With Randy Houser, William Michael Morgan In 2019

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Alan Jackson

Alan Jackson will return to the road in 2019, beginning Jan. 25 with a show at Louisville, Kentucky’s KFC Yum! Center. He will bring along William Michael Morgan and Randy Houser for select dates.

In addition to Morgan and Houser, many of Jackson’s shows will include a brief performance by aspiring singer-songwriters who’ve played AJ’s Good Time Bar, his self-owned honky-tonk in Nashville. Jackson has a long history of giving new and rising stars their first chances to perform in front of arena-size crowds – artists who’ve been on one of their “first big tours” with Jackson include Brad Paisley, LeAnn Rimes, Sara Evans, Chris Young and, more recently, Jon Pardi and Lauren Alaina.

Tickets and information for all Alan Jackson 2019 Tour dates are available at alanjackson.com.

ALAN JACKSON’S 2019 TOUR

(Dates Already On Sale, Unless Otherwise Noted)

Jan. 25: Louisville, KY (KFC Yum! Center) with William Michael Morgan
Jan. 26: Greenville, SC (Bon Secours Wellness Arena) with William Michael Morgan
Feb. 22: Madison, WI (Alliant Energy Center) with William Michael Morgan
Feb. 23: Grand Rapids, MI (Van Andel Arena) ** with William Michael Morgan
March 10: Bossier City, LA (CenturyLink Center) ** with William Michael Morgan
April 12: Oklahoma City, OK (Chesapeake Energy Arena) ++ with William Michael Morgan
April 13: Omaha, NE (CHI Health Center) with Randy Houser
April 26: Fort Wayne, IN (War Memorial Coliseum) ** with William Michael Morgan
May 10: Columbus, OH (Schottenstein Center) ** with William Michael Morgan
May 17: Winston-Salem, NC (Veterans Mem. Coliseum) ++ with William Michael Morgan
May 18: Hershey, PA (Giant Center) ++ with William Michael Morgan
Aug. 9: Rogers, AR (Walmart AMP) with William Michael Morgan
Aug. 10: Wichita, KS (Intrust Bank Arena) ++ with William Michael Morgan
Aug. 23: N. Charleston, SC (N. Charleston Coliseum) with Randy Houser
Aug. 24: Charlotte, NC (Spectrum Center) with Randy Houser
Sept. 20: Orlando, FL (Amway Arena) ++ with William Michael Morgan
Sept. 21: Jacksonville, FL (Veterans Memorial Coliseum) ++ with William Michael Morgan

** Tickets on sale Friday, December 14
++ On sale date TBD

Apple Music Content Creation Office Set For Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston

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Apple Music has signed a lease at the May Hosiery complex in Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston area, the Nashville Business Journal reports. The streaming service plans to open a content creation office in the two-story building at 431 Chestnut Street. The building will house nearly 25,000 square-feet of office space, as well as an outdoor event space.

At press time, Apple Music representatives could not be reached for comment.

In April, it was announced that Apple exec Jay Liepis would move to Nashville to lead a team dedicated to focusing on and building Apple’s country music audience, but also cater to Nashville’s diverse music scene.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Apple Music’s A-List Country ranks as the third most-popular playlist, with a 151 percent year over year growth. Apple Music’s Modern Country radio playlist grew 70 percent last year while the country music category on Apple Music in the US is up 66 percent.

Taylor Swift Teases New ‘Reputation Stadium Tour’ Netflix Film

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Taylor Swift Reputation Stadium Tour, a new movie featuring highlights from Swift’s latest monster tour, is coming to Netflix before year’s end. The mega-star announced the upcoming film will arrive on Netflix before the year is up on social media, and shared a trailer of footage from the upcoming concert film.

Taylor Swift reputation Stadium Tour will premiere on the streaming platform on New Year’s Eve at 12:00 a.m. PT on Dec. 31. According to Netflix the film includes footage from the U.S. tour dates with guest appearances by Charli XCX and Camila Cabello.

Reputation, which kicked off in May, broke U.S. records for the highest-grossing domestic tour, having grossed $266.1 million and selling 2,068,399 tickets according to Billboard.

“Thanks so much for all the birthday wishes!” Swift tweeted. “Today I finally get to show you something we’ve been working on for a while… the trailer for the Reputation Stadium Tour!”

Brad Paisley, PRCA Team For Rodeo Version Of “Bucked Off”

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Brad Paisley has partnered with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) to launch a special rodeo version video of his current single, “Bucked Off.” The video premiered during Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Kickoff at World Champion Bull Riders’ Gary Leffew’s Bucking Ball at The Tropicana Las Vegas.

“This is the 45th year of my Bucking Ball and it just keeps getting better and better.  We could not have been more excited and honored to host Brad Paisley’s World Premiere Video (rodeo version) to a sell-out crowd at this years Bucking Ball,” says Leffew.

The Bucking Ball is co-hosted by World Champion Bull Rider Leffew and Nashville’s Sharla McCoy (former Miss Rodeo and country radio veteran producer and host). The video premiered before a sold-out crowd including multiple PRCA riders/contestants, BFO (Bull Fighter’s Only), Miss Rodeo America Contestants, the Pendleton Posse and others from around the country and Australia and Canada. A grand prize giveaway was held for a trip for two to attend a 2019 Brad Paisley show with meet and greet during the event as well.

 

Kristen Ashley Forms 11/10 Management, Signs Longtime Client Mitchell Tenpenny

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Pictured (L-R): Haley McLemore, 377/RLM, 11/10 Management’s Kristen Ashley, Mitchell Tenpenny, and RLM’s Coran Capshaw (not pictured are Enzo DeVincenzo 377/RLM and 11/10 Management’s JT Pratt)

Music manager Kristen Ashley has launched 11/10 Management, signing longtime client Mitchell Tenpenny and adding team member JT Pratt. Simultaneously, 11/10 Management has partnered with 377 Management/Red Light. Ashley previously worked at Riser House, where Tenpenny was the flagship artist.

Riser House was founded by Matt Swanson, Jennifer Johnson and Tenpenny. Tenpenny’s publishing remains with Riser House and his upcoming debut major label project, Telling All My Secrets, will be released as a joint venture on Riser House/Columbia Nashville on Dec. 14. The album features Tenpenny’s chart-topping first single “Drunk Me,” which he co-wrote with Jordan Schmidt and Justin Wilson.

“It’s a dream to work with a team like this,” shares Tenpenny. “I’m just excited about the future as the sky is the limit with this group.”

Ashley can be reached at (615) 321-0377 and [email protected], while Pratt can be reached at (615) 321-0377 and [email protected].

Randy Travis Honored With Helping A Hero’s Lee Greenwood Award

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Pictured (L-R) top row: Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Chairman of the Board David Balat, PR Chair Jennifer Hammond, Tate Stevens, Nicole C. Mullen, Lee Greenwood, Scooter Brown, Secretary Karen Roan, board member Hon. Chris Daniel and Chairman Emeritus Meredith Iler; Bottom row: Audit Chair LTC E.A. “Buddy” Grantham, Randy Travis and Vice Chairman of the Board Sunil “Sunny” Sharma

Randy Travis was honored with the Lee Greenwood Award by the Helping A Hero organization on Monday (Dec. 10) at their Lee Greenwood & Friends concert in Houston. The concert, held at Houston Baptist University, celebrated Christmas and patriotism while honoring and raising money to build homes for wounded warriors.

The reception and silent auction was followed by the concert program, featuring performances by special guests. Scooter Brown Band sang songs from their album American Son while Tate Stevens performed “Ordinary Angels.” Gavin DeGraw performed many of his hits including “Soldier” and Lee Greenwood offered a rendition of “God Bless the USA.” SSG Shilo Harris, a retired military veteran, received the Pillar Award.

“Randy Travis has done so much for our troops over the years having done five USO tours and otherwise entertaining and honoring them in a variety of ways. We are thrilled to be able to recognize him for his continued efforts and salute his enormous talents,” said Meredith Iler, Chairman Emeritus of Helping A Hero.

“As a combat veteran, it means the world to me that Helping A Hero is serving veterans who have sacrificed for our freedom. Tonight was a celebration of decades of music, with various genres represented—we were glad to be a part of it,” said Brown.

Sister Hazel Returns With New EP ‘Fire’ In February

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Sister Hazel is set to release their new EP, Fire, on Feb. 8. The newest EP is Volume III of the collectible compilation series titled, “Elements,” and includes a bonus seventh track that will continue throughout the series.

The six-track EP is the follow-up to their Billboard chart-topping EP’s, Water and Wind and features tracks written by Sister Hazel with writers including Monty Powell, Jennifer Hanson, and more. Fans who pre-order the EP can get the instant grat track, “Here With You,” which is also available on all streaming services now. 

“The writing and production of ‘Here With You’ was a very cool departure from the norm for us,” said Drew Copeland, singer and guitarist for the band. “Getting a chance to write a song with Monty and Anna in Utah was a total blast and an honor. Once again Ken delivers a killer vocal and the band loves the way this song turned out.”

To celebrate the release of their new EP, Sister Hazel has announced a string of tour dates for 2019, which include the sold out Holiday Hang in Chicago and the 19th Year of their signature “Rock Boat Cruise.” For more visit sisterhazel.com.

FIRE Track List:
1. “Every Heartbreak” Lyrics & Music by: Jett Beres
2. “On and On” Lyrics & Music by: Ryan Newell, Todd Wright, Mike Meadows
3. “Life and Love” Lyrics and Music by: Ken Block, Trent Summar
4. “Fire” Lyrics and Music by: Andrew Copeland, Michael Logen, Jennifer Hansen
5. “She’s All You Need” Lyrics & Music by: Ryan Newell, Todd Wright
6. “Here With You” Lyrics & Music by: Ken Block, Drew Copeland, Monte Powell, Anna Wilson
7. Elements III (Growing Up) Lyrics & Music: Ken Block