CMA Touring Awards To Honor Brian O’Connell

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Brian O’Connell

The Country Music Association (CMA) will honor Live Nation’s President of Country Music Touring Brian O’Connell as this year’s recipient of the CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award. The CMA Touring Awards, which highlights vital behind-the-scenes members of the industry, will take place Monday, Jan. 22 at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works. Sugarland member and CMA winner Kristian Bush will host the ceremony.

“I am incredibly honored to receive this award from the CMA,” O’Connell said. “This is absolutely not a reflection of anything I have done on my own, rather my incredible team in Nashville, Michael Rapino, Bob Roux and the rest of Live Nation giving us the latitude and guidance to achieve lofty goals, and most importantly the artist community, including the agents, managers and road warriors who make it all possible.”

“CMA is proud to have Brian as such an instrumental and influential voice on the CMA Board,” said CMA Senior Director of Awards and Industry Relations Brandi Simms. “His ability to think outside the box with touring while also expanding festivals in country music is inspiring, and he has no doubt made an impact on the genre that will live on for generations to come. He represents his artists with passion, commitment and insight, and we are all proud to know him.”

For more than 25 years, O’Connell has revolutionized country touring while contributing to some of the most successful careers in country music. His growing legacy includes tours with artists Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Thomas Rhett and Keith Urban. O’Connell developed the hugely successful Country Megaticket, a season ticket to country shows at Live Nation venues across the country, and continues to grow a vibrant festival division within the company including Watershed, Faster Horses, LakeShake and more.

Jake Kennedy Joins UTA Nashville

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Jake Kennedy

Jake Kennedy has exited CAA to join UTA Nashville, and started in his new role last week. With more than a decade of music experience, Kennedy has represented and worked with Montgomery Gentry, Kellie Pickler, Walker County, Michael Tyler, Colin Hay, Steve Holy, Jason Michael Carroll, and more.

“We’re excited to have Jake join our team in Nashville,” said David Zedeck, Global Head of UTA Music. “Jake’s experience working with developing and superstar artists makes him a great addition to UTA.”

“I’ve been watching the momentum at UTA continue to progress, which fueled my decision to join the agency,” said Jake Kennedy. “It’s an innovative space for artists to thrive and I’m looking forward to working with the team in Nashville.”

Sugarland Announces ‘Still The Same’ Tour

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Sugarland fans will be happy to know the duo is returning to the road with a brand new tour, the Still The Same 2018 Tour, which will kick off this Spring. The pair’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush will bring their new live show to 48 cities, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Nashville.

The Nashville date at Bridgestone Arena is set for Aug. 2, and will feature Frankie Ballard and Lindsay Ell as openers.

The first leg of the tour will feature opening acts Brandy Clark and Clare Bowen, while Ballard and Ell will accompany them for the second half.

“We are thrilled to head back out on the road together as this has been a long time coming for the both of us!” said Nettles. “And to have Brandy, Clare, Frankie and Lindsay join us will make our return really special.”

“Can’t wait to get back out there and share our new music with the best fans on earth!” Bush continued. “It will be great to hear everyone singing the old favorites along with us all summer.”

Tickets will go on sale starting Friday, Jan. 12, and beginning Tuesday (Jan. 9), fans in select cities will have the opportunity to purchase VIP packages which include a meet and greet, attending a pre-show VIP sound check, access to exclusive tour lithographs, and more.

The two recently reunited and released “Still The Same,” their first new music in seven years, in a joint venture with Big Machine Records and UMG Nashville.

STILL THE SAME 2018 TOUR DATES:
May 4 / Choctaw Grand Theatre / Durant, OK
May 25 / James Brown Arena / Augusta, GA*
May 26 / PNC Arena / Raleigh, NC*
May 27 / Country 500 Festival / Daytona Beach, FL*
May 31 / Gila River Arena / Phoenix, AZ*
Jun 1 / Honda Center / Anaheim, CA*
Jun 2 / San Diego County Fair / Del Mar, CA*
Jun 7 / accesso ShoWare Center / Kent, WA*
Jun 8 / Spokane Arena / Spokane WA*
Jun 9 / MODA Center / Portland, OR*
Jun 12 / Santa Barbara Bowl / Santa Barbara, CA*
Jun 14 / Greek Theatre / Los Angeles, CA*
Jun 15 / Rabobank Arena / Bakersfield, CA*
Jun 16 / Mandalay Bay / Las Vegas, NV*
Jun 21 / Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre / Denver, CO*
Jun 22 / Rushmore Plaza Civic Center / Rapid City, SD*
Jun 23 / Bismarck Event Center / Bismarck, ND*
Jun 28 / CenturyLink Center Omaha / Omaha, NE*
Jun 29 / TaxSlayer Center / Moline, IL*
Jun 30 / Chaifetz Arena / St. Louis, MO*
Jul 6 / Fallsview Casino / Niagara Fall, ONT***
Jul 7 / Fallsview Casino / Niagara Falls, ONT***
Jul 8 / Turning Stone Resort / Verona, NY***
Jul 12 / Schottenstein Center / Columbus, OH*
Jul 13 / Covelli Centre / Youngstown, OH*
Jul 14 / Merriweather Post Pavilion / Columbia, MD*
Jul 19 / BOK Center / Tulsa, OK**
Jul 20 / Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie / Grand Prairie, TX**
Jul 21 / Smart Financial Centre / Sugar Land, TX**
Jul 26 / Pensacola Bay Center / Pensacola, FL**
Jul 27 / Von Braun Center / Huntsville, AL**
Jul 28 / KFC Yum Center / Louisville, KY**
Aug 2 / Bridgestone Arena / Nashville, TN**
Aug 3 / Infinite Energy Arena / Atlanta, GA**
Aug 4 / Bon Secours Wellness Arena / Greenville, SC**
Aug 9 / Huntington Center / Toledo, OH**
Aug 10 / Van Andel Arena / Grand Rapids, MI**
Aug 11 / Resch Center / Green Bay, WI**
Aug 16 / Denny Sanford PREMIER Center / Sioux Falls, SD**
Aug 17 / Iowa State Fair / Des Moines, IA**
Aug 18 / INTRUST Bank Arena / Wichita, KS**
Aug 23 / Ravinia Festival / Chicago, IL**
Aug 24 / Minnesota State Fair / St. Paul, MN**
Aug 25 / Nebraska State Fair / Grand Island, NE****
Aug 30 / Mohegan Sun Arena / Uncasville, CT**
Aug 31 / Allentown Fair/ Allentown, PA**
Sep 1 / Bank of NH Pavillion / Gilford, NH**
Sep 7 / DCU Center / Worcester, MA**
Sep 8 / Prudential Center / Newark, NJ**

*with Brandy Clark and Clare Bowen
**with Frankie Ballard and Lindsay Ell
***with Brandy Clark only
****with Frankie Ballard only

WME Nashville Office Promotes Four

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Pictured (L-R): Brian Carothers, Adi Sharma, Hayley Warner and Chris Hrovat.

WME recently announced the promotion of four new agents in the Nashville office. Those who advanced to agent are Brian Carothers, Chris Hrovat, Adi Sharma and Hayley Warner.

Carothers began his career with WME in 2013 and most recently assisted in booking large venues and festivals in the West territory. Carothers will join the Development team as a booking agent in the Southwest.

Hrovat began his career at WME in 2013 and has assisted in booking fairs and festivals as well as venues in the South Central territory. Most recently, he has worked directly with several of the artists on WME’s roster. Hrovat will be a multi-genre development agent, working with both country and non-country artists.

Sharma began his career in the agency’s Beverly Hills office in 2014 and transferred to the Nashville office in 2016. Most recently he has worked on national touring for several headlining artists on WME’s roster. Sharma will be leading a new team that specializes in large venue touring.

Warner is a 2012 graduate of Purdue University. Warner most recently assisted in booking clubs in Texas and Oklahoma. She will be joining the Development team as a booking agent in the Midwest.

The promotions follow a string of new artists and executives joining WME, including Scott Clayton, Buster Phillips, Brandi Brammer, Matthew Morgan, and artists Train, My Morning Jacket, Kings of Leon, and more.

Justin Timberlake’s 2018 Tour To Include Bridgestone Arena Date

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Justin Timberlake’s Man of the Woods video trailer.

Justin Timberlake announced he will launch his Man Of The Woods Tour in March, and the 27-city trek will include a stop at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on May 9.

The tour supports Timberlake’s album of the same name, which will release Feb. 2, two days before Timberlake performs the Super Bowl LII halftime show.

The tour will end May 30 at the FedEx Forum in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee.

Timberlake’s Man Of The Woods album will feature collaborations with Alicia Keys (“Morning Light”), and Chris Stapleton (“Say Something”).

Ticket sale dates vary depending on desired tour date. Although, American Express Card Members get access to presale tickets. Visit JustinTimberlake.com to see the full schedule of release dates.

Bobby Bones Launches New Red Hoodie Comedy Tour This Spring

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Bobby Bones is hitting the road again this Spring, bringing his stand-up comedy to fans on his Bobby Bones Red Hoodie Comedy Tour. Launching March 17 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the tour will feature musical guest Brandon Ray and an opening comedy bit from The Bobby Bones Show’s Mike D. Bones will sell red hoodies at each stop on the tour to help raise money for the patients of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Tickets for the tour go on sale this Friday, Jan. 12 at BobbyBonesComedy.com. 

“I can’t wait to get back out and meet all my people. And tell lots of jokes,” Bones said. “Some people have asked ‘Why the red hoodie?’ One, I didn’t want to have to dress up. And two, all red hoodies and red t-shirts sold on the tour will help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. So yeah. Can’t wait.”

Bones’ last comedy tour, the Funny & Alone Tour, sold out more than 20 shows last year.

BOBBY BONES RED HOODIE COMEDY TOUR
3/17/18 Pikes Peak Center Colorado Springs, CO
3/30/18 Golden Nugget Casino Las Vegas, NV*
3/31/18 Tower Theatre Fresno, CA
4/6/18 Paramount Theatre Charlottesville, VA
4/7/18 Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall Munhall, PA
4/13/18 Kiva Auditorium Albuquerque, NM
5/11/18 Jefferson Theatre Beaumont, TX
5/12/18 Joy Theater New Orleans, LA
5/18/18 Paramount Theatre Austin, TX
5/19/18 Wichita Falls Memorial Auditorium Wichita Falls, TX
6/15/18 Charleston Music Hall Charleston, SC
6/16/18 Francis Marion University PAC Florence, SC
6/22/18 Morsani Hall Tampa, FL
6/23/18 Sunrise Theatre Fort Pierce, FL

Sugarland Plots 2018 Still The Same Tour

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Following the announcement of Sugarland’s return with an upcoming album to be released jointly via UMG Nashville and Big Machine Label Group, the duo has announced it will hit the road this year with 48 tour stops, including a stop in Nashville. Other cities on the tour include Atlanta, Anaheim, Dallas, Seattle, and more. Specific dates for each city have not yet been announced.

Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush recently returned to country radio with the new single, “Still The Same,” marking their first radio offering since 2011’s “Tonight.”

The duo has sold nearly 10 million albums domestically, and earned Platinum-certified singles including “All I Want to Do,” “Stay” and the 2x Platinum “Stuck Like Glue.” During their career, the duo has also earned several accolades including CMA Vocal Duo of the Year (2007-2011), five ACM Awards (including Song of the Year and Single of the Year) and Grammy honors for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, and Best Country Song, for “Stay.”

The duo’s reunion comes after both Nettles and Bush released solo projects in recent years. Nettles released the solo album, That Girl, in 2014 via Mercury Nashville. Her second solo album, Playing With Fire, released via Big Machine in 2016. Meanwhile, Bush released the solo album Southern Gravity as a solo artist in 2015 with the now defunct Streamsound Records before signing with BBR Music Group’s Wheelhouse Records. There, he also produced Lindsay Ell’s The Project, released in August on the label group’s Stoney Creek Records.

Sugarland 2018 Still The Same Tour Stops

Allentown, Pa.
Anaheim, Calif.
Atlanta
Augusta, Ga.
Bakersfield, Calif.
Bismarck, N.D.
Chicago
Columbia, Md.
Columbus, Ohio
Dallas
Daytona beach, Fla.
Denver
Des Moines, Iowa
Durant, Okla.
Gilford, N.H.
Grand Island, Neb.
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Green Bay, Wis.
Greenville, S.C.
Huntsville, Ala.
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Louisville, Ky.
Moline, Ill.
Nashville, Tenn.
Newark, N.J.
Niagara falls, Ontario
Omaha, Neb.
Pensacola, Fla.
Phoenix, Ariz.
Portland, Oregon
Raleigh, N.C.
Rapid city, S.D.
San Diego, Calif.
Santa Barbara, Calif.
Seattle
Sioux falls, S.D.
Spokane, Wash.
St. Louis
St. Paul, Minn.
Sugar Land, Texas
Toledo, Ohio
Tulsa, Okla.
Uncasville, Conn.
Verona, N.Y.
Wichita, Kan.
Worcester, Mass.
Youngstown, Ohio

Smithfield To Join Granger Smith On 2018 Tour

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Smithfield will join Wheelhouse Records artist Granger Smith for 12 dates on his upcoming 2018 Winter tour. The Texas acts will kick off the tour on Jan. 18 at Irving Plaza in New York, New York.

Duo Smithfield, which includes Jennifer Fiedler and Trey Smith, released the single, “When You’re Gone,” which has earned more than 2.1 million streams on Spotify, 480K views on YouTube and is consistently topping the CMT 12-Pack Countdown. Both songwriters, Fiedler is aligned with ASCAP, while Smith is signed with SESAC. Last year, the duo took part in SiriusXM and Live Nation’s Highway Finds Tour, alongside Steve Moakler and Drew Baldridge.

Smithfield Tour Dates:
Jan. 18: Irving Plaza | New York, NY
Jan. 19: Paradise Island Rock | Boston, MA
Jan. 20: Starland Ballroom | Sayreville, NJ
Jan. 25:  Kegs Canal Side | Jordan, NY
Jan. 26: Upstate Concert Hall | Clifton Park, NY
Jan. 27: Trocadero Theatre | Philadelphia, PA
Jan. 28: Anthology | Rochester, NY
Feb. 1: Castle Theatre | Bloomington, IL
Feb. 3: Prarie’s Edge Casino Resort | Granite Falls, MN
Feb. 8: Ram’s Head Live | Baltimore, MD
Feb. 9: Dusty Armadillo | Rootstown, OH
Feb. 15: The Griffin Restaurant | El Dorado, AR

Exile Celebrates 55th Anniversary With No Limit Tour

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Music group Exile will celebrate its 55th anniversary with the upcoming No Limit Tour, which launches this month with shows in the Nashville area. The band will appear on the Huckabee Show (TBN) on Jan. 13, followed by a Grand Ole Opry appearance the same day. The band will play Franklin, Tennessee’s Franklin Theatre on Feb. 10, followed by shows in Kentucky, Florida, Oklahoma, Iowa, and more.

Since forming in Richmond, Kentucky, in 1963, Exile has sold more than 8 million records and earned three Gold records. 2018 also marks the 40th anniversary of the group’s hit “Kiss You All Over,” which spent four weeks atop the Billboard pop chart in 1978. The band’s other hits include “Give Me One More Chance,” and “I Don’t Want to Be a Memory,” among others.

“We’re excited and proud to commemorate this landmark achievement in Exile’s history of 55 years as a band as well as celebrating the 40th Anniversary of ‘Kiss You All Over’ this year!” said members of Exile, adding, ”there are some very special plans for 2018, and we cannot wait to share them with all our fans.”

Exile “No Limit Tour” 2018
Jan. 13 – National TV – Huckabee Show – TBN
Jan. 13 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry
Feb. 10 – Franklin, TN – Franklin Theatre
Feb. 15 – Lancaster, KY – Grand Theater
Feb. 16 – McMinnville, TN – Park Theater
Feb. 24 – Weirsdale, FL – Orange Blossom Opry
Mar. 3 – Norman, OK – Thunderbird Casino
Apr. 14 – Niagara Falls, Ontario – Niagara Falls View Casino Resort
Apr. 16 – Pigeon Forge, TN – Dollywood, Show Street Theater
Jun. 3 – Branson, MO – Silver Dollar City
Jun. 8 – Richmond, KY – Chenault Vineyards
Jun. 29 – Prestonsburg, KY – Mountain Arts Center – Hillbilly Christmas in July
Jul. 22 – Iowa City, IA – Johnson County Fair
Aug. 11 – Bevier, MO – Bevier Homecoming
Oct. 2 – Eminence, MO – Cross Country Trail Ride
Oct. 16 – Hiawassee, GA – Georgia Mountain Fair / Anderson Music Hall
Nov. 17 – Federalsburg, MD – Curtis Andrew Auctions Events w/Rhonda Vincent
Nov. 30 – Scottsburg, IN – Ross Country Jamboree
Dec. 1 – Scottsburg, IN – Ross Country Jamboree
Dec. 15 – Bremen, GA – Mill Town Music Hall

Sara Evans And CMT Next Women Of Country Hit The Road In February

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Sara Evans has partnered with CMT for its 4th annual Next Women of Country Tour in 2018. “CMT Next Women of Country presents Sara Evans All The Love Tour featuring RaeLynn and Kalie Shorr” launches February 12 in New York City with 15 shows from coast to coast. Special guests on the tour include RaeLynn and Kalie Shorr, who are among the impressive roster of CMT’s “Next Women of Country” artists.

“We are thrilled to announce our 4th Annual ‘Next Women of Country’ Tour and partner with the amazing Sara Evans,” said Leslie Fram, SVP of Music Strategy & Talent, CMT. “This tour was created to give emerging female artists a stage to play on and this year we are proud to welcome RaeLynn and Kalie Shorr.”

“I absolutely love that CMT champions female artists with the Next Women of Country Tour and am so honored to be headlining it in 2018,” said Evans.  “I can’t wait to hit the road with RaeLynn and Kalie. They are both incredible singers, songwriters, and overall artists and we’re going to have a blast!”

Tickets and VIP packages go on sale beginning Friday, December 22 at 10am (local time). Tickets can be purchased at SaraEvans.com and NextWomenTour.CMT.com.