Exclusive: WME Signs Maddie & Tae

Maddie & Tae

Maddie & Tae

Dot Records duo Maddie & Tae have signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME).

The duo’s debut album, Start Here, featured the platinum-selling single “Girl In A Country Song,” as well as their current single “Shut Up And Fish.” They are currently on the road with Lee Brice’s Life Off My Years Tour through April, and will join Brad Paisley this summer on his Crushin’ It World Tour.

The duo is nominated for Vocal Duo Of The Year and New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year at the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards, set for April 3.

Zac Brown Band To Launch Black Out The Sun Tour In May

Zac Brown Band

Zac Brown Band

Zac Brown Band will launch its sixth headlining US concert tour on May 19 in Hartford, Connecticut. The 26-date tour will welcome Drake White & The Big Fire as direct support. The tour will include stops at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Austin360 Amphitheater, Boston’s Fenway Park, Minneapolis’ Target Field, and more.

Prior to kicking off their 2016 tour, Zac Brown Band’s Southern Ground Music & Food Festival returns to Charleston, South Carolina for its fifth year on April 16-17. Headliners include Tedeschi Trucks Band and Thomas Rhett with additional performances by Michael Franti & Spearhead, Kacey Musgraves, Hunter Hayes, Marshall Tucker Band and more.

Zac Brown Band is represented by ROAR, a Beverly Hills-based talent and brand management company. The band is also represented by CAA, public relations firm Shore Fire Media and strategic digital marketing agency Girlilla Marketing.

ZAC BROWN BAND’S BLACK OUT THE SUN TOUR DATES:

May 19: Hartford, Connecticut / XFINITY Theatre
May 20: Camden, New Jersey / BB&T Pavilion
May 21: Burgettstown, Pennsylvania / First Niagara Pavilion
May 22: Noblesville, Indiana / Klipsch Music Center
May 27: Kansas City, Missouri / Sprint Center
May 28: Minneapolis, Minnesota / Target Field
June 3: Mountain View, California / Shoreline Amphitheatre
June 4: Irvine, California / Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
June 5: Inglewood, California / The Forum
June 24: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio / Blossom Music Center
June 25: East Troy, Wisconsin / Alpine Valley Music Theatre
June 26: East Troy, Wisconsin / Alpine Valley Music Theatre
July 1: Cincinnati, Ohio / Riverbend Music Center
July 2: Clarkston, Michigan / DTE Energy Music Theatre
July 3: Darien Center, New York / Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
July 21: Syracuse, New York / Lakeview Amphitheater
July 22: Bethel, New York / Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
July 23: Hershey, Pennsylvania / Hersheypark Stadium
Aug. 12: Houston, Texas / Minute Maid Park
Aug. 13: Dallas, Texas / Gexa Energy Pavilion
Aug. 14: Austin, Texas / Austin360 Amphitheater
Aug. 19: Flushing, New York / Citi Field
Aug. 20: Boston, Massachusetts / Fenway Park
Aug. 21: Boston, Massachusetts / Fenway Park
Sept. 2: Bristow, Virgina / Jiffy Lube Live
Sept. 3: Saratoga Springs, New York / Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Dega Jam Country Festival Canceled

DegaJamNew country festival Dega Jam, which was slated to launch July 1-3, 2016 at the Talladega Superspeedway, has been canceled. Dega Jam was spearheaded by AEG Live, in conjunction with Festival Productions, Inc. CEO and New Orleans Jazz Fest producer Quint Davis.

“We sincerely apologize to everyone impacted by this difficult decision—fans, artists, industry partners, corporate partners, and everyone at Talladega Superspeedway,” read a statement on the Dega Jam official website.

The country festival was slated to include performers Eric Church, Blake Shelton, Toby Keith, and Kid Rock.

Ticket purchasers will automatically receive full refunds, including all service charges, beginning Tuesday (Feb. 23).

Dega Jam is the latest country festival to be canceled, following the halting of the Big Barrel festival (AEG Live’s Goldenvoice Division) in Dover, Delaware, as well as Live Nation’s Farmborough (New York) and Delaware Junction in Harrington, Delaware.

Chris Stapleton Joins ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live,’ Extends Tour

Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton has added several tour dates and will perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday night (Feb. 10). Earlier this week, Stapleton won his first Grammys, in the categories of Best Country Song (“Traveller”) and Best Country Album (Traveller).

New tour dates include a co-headlining show with Jason Isbell on June 18 in Columbia, Maryland. He’s also part of the lineup for Luke Bryan’s stadium tour on July 16 in Gillette Stadium near Boston, and Oct. 22 in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. As previously announced, he will co-headline a series of concerts with Hank Williams Jr. in August.

Chris-Stapleton-TravellerUpcoming performances include a date at Turner Field as part of the Atlanta Braves Summer Concert Series on May 29. He will headline shows in California at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, The Santa Barbara Bowl, and the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.

Tour stops have also been added in the following cities: Denver (two shows); Las Vegas; San Diego; Bakersfield, California; Mesa, Arizona; and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Stapleton will launch a three-night sold-out series of shows at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Feb. 18. He also has six concerts confirmed for Europe in March.

Chris Stapleton’s Confirmed Tour Dates

February 18-20: Nashville, Tennessee; Ryman Auditorium
February 26: Lubbock, Texas; City Bank Auditorium
February 27: San Antonio, Texas; San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
February 28: Thackerville, Oklahoma; WinStar World Casino

March 11: Dublin, Ireland; C2C Country To Country
March 12: Glasgow, U.K.; C2C Country To Country
March 13: London, U.K.; C2C Country To Country
March 15: Munich, Germany; Technikum
March 16: Berlin, Germany; Columbia Theater
March 18: Hamburg, Germany; Mojo Club

April 2: Las Vegas, Nevada; ACM Party For A Cause Festival
April 14: Mesa, Arizona; Mesa Amphitheatre
April 15: Las Vegas, Nevada; The Joint
April 17: Indio, California; Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
April 22: Bakersfield, California; Rabobank Theatre
April 23: Berkeley, California; The Greek Theatre
April 24: Indio, California; Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
April 26: Santa Barbara, California; Santa Barbara Bowl
April 27: Los Angeles, California; The Greek Theatre
April 30: Indio, California; Stagecoach Festival

May 1: San Diego, California; Humphrey’s
May 4: Albuquerque, New Mexico: Sandia Casino
May 5-6: Denver, Colorado: Fillmore Auditorium
May 28: Daytona, Florida: Country 500 Festival
May 29: Atlanta, Georgia; Turner Field

June 9-12: Manchester, Tennessee; Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
June 18: Columbia, Maryland; Merriweather Post Pavilion (co-headling with Jason Isbell)
July 16: Boston, Massachusetts; Gillette Stadium (Luke Bryan’s Kill the Lights Tour)

August 5: Tampa, Florida; MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre (with Hank Williams Jr.)
August 6: West Palm Beach, Florida; Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre (with Hank Williams Jr.)
August 12: Houston, Texas; Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (with Hank Williams Jr.)
August 13: Austin, Texas; Austin360 Amphitheater (with Hank Williams Jr.)
August 19: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; Blossom Music Center (with Hank Williams Jr.)
August 20: Clarkston, Michigan; DTE Energy Music Theatre (with Hank Williams Jr.)
August 26: Noblesville, Indiana; Klipsch Music Center (with Hank Williams Jr.)
August 27: Cincinnati, Ohio; Riverbend Music Center (with Hank Williams Jr.)

October 22: Arlington, Texas: AT&T Stadium (Luke Bryan’s Kill the Lights Tour)

Australia’s CMC Rocks QLD Country Festival Sells Out

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The 2016 CMC Rocks QLD Country Music Festival has become the first Australian country music festival in history to sell out. The event will take place March 11-13 in Queensland, Australia.

Jason Aldean will be headlining the festival. Other confirmed performers include Florida Georgia Line, Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, Kip Moore, Kelsea Ballerini, Cam, Chase Rice, The Cadillac Three, Drake White and the Big Fire, and many others.

Jason Aldean

Jason Aldean

“I’ve heard Australians know how to have a good time,” said Aldean. “I have been looking forward to heading down under, but to hear it’s sold out already without ever playing Australia is really cool. We’re going to be sure those fans are talking about our show until the next time we make it over!”

“We started this festival nine years ago with a real belief that if we could deliver an exciting format and world’s best festival standards and practices, Australian and indeed, country fans from across the world, would come out and support the event,” says festival promoter Rob Potts.

“We’re thrilled to announce that for the first time in the festival’s history, CMC Rocks has completely sold out. We couldn’t have achieved this incredible milestone without the support and loyalty of passionate country music lovers from across Australia and New Zealand and thank them for their on-going support,” says promoter Matthew Lazarus Hall of Chugg Entertainment.

From the first incarnation of the festival in 2008, CMC Rocks has grown and evolved to become the key event on the Australian country music calendar. Attracting the biggest global names in country music over the last nine years and now one of Australia’s most recognized annual music events, audience numbers have kept growing year after year.

Foxtel’s 6th Annual CMC Music Awards, a viewer-voted country music awards show, will be held at QPAC Brisbane on March 10. The awards will feature performances by Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Ballerini, and Australian artist Adam Harvey. It is hosted by CMC Rocks ambassador and Australian country superstar Morgan Evans.

Beyoncé To Bring Formation World Tour To Nashville

Beyonce's in her video for "Formation."

Beyonce’s in her video for “Formation.”

On Sunday, Feb. 7, Beyoncé not only made a special performance during Super Bowl 50, she also announced a new tour.

Beyoncé’s Formation World Tour will visit Nashville’s Nissan Stadium on Thursday, May 5.

Other U.S. stops include Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Boston, New York City, Los Angeles and more.

The Formation World Tour will launch April 27 in Miami, Florida, with several North American tour dates before heading to Europe in June. The tour is named after her current single “Formation,” which she released Saturday, Feb. 6, along with an accompanying music video.

The Formation World Tour marks the entertainer’s first major tour since 2013’s Mrs. Carter Show.

Tickets for the Formation World Tour go on sale Feb. 16, but pre-sale begins Feb. 9.

Brantley Gilbert Taps Justin Moore, Colt Ford For Summer Tour

Brantley Gilbert. Photo: James Minchin

Brantley Gilbert. Photo: James Minchin

Brantley Gilbert will launch his Take It Outside summer tour on June 2 at Mansfield, Massachusetts’ Xfinity Center. Gilbert will bring Justin Moore and Colt Ford along for the tour’s 22 dates, which run through October 2016.

The trio of artists has toured with each other over the years, while Gilbert and Moore previously collaborated with Thomas Rhett on “Small Town Throwdown.”

“This is one of those tour’s that’ll be crazy before it even rolls,” says Gilbert. “Justin likes to really push the limits, and he’s a pretty serious performer. Colt is one of those guys who gets how to hit a crowd right between the eyes. If you love your country on the rougher side, this is gonna be a show for you.”

Take It Outside Summer Tour Dates:

June 2 – Mansfield, Massachusetts (Xfinity Center) **with Kip Moore, Colt Ford
June 3 – Hartford, Connecticut (The XFINITY Theatre)
June 11 – St Louis, Missouri (Hollywood Casino Amphitheater)
June 12 – Kansas City, Missouri (Cricket Wireless Amphitheater)
June 17 – Gilford, New Hampshire (Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion at Meadowbrook)
June 19 – Bristow, Virginia (Jiffy Lube Live)
June 23 – Raleigh, North Carolina (Walnut Creek Amphitheater)
June 24 – Charlotte, North Carolina (PNC Music Pavilion)
June 26 – Orange Beach, Alabama (The Amphitheater at The Wharf)
July 8 – Darien Center, New York (Darien Lake Performing Arts)
July 9 – Chicago, Illinois (Hollywood Casino Amphitheater)
July 22 – Mountain View, California (Shoreline Amphitheater)
July 24 – San Diego, California (Sleep Train Amphitheater)
July 31– Wheatland, California (Toyota Amphitheater)
Aug. 5 – Albuquerque, New Mexico (Isleta Amphitheater)
Aug. 6 – Phoenix, Arizona (Ak-Chin Pavilion)
Aug. 20 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (First Niagara Pavilion)
Sept. 8 – New Orleans, Louisiana (Bold Sphere Music at Champions Square)
Sept. 9 – Houston, Texas (Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion)
Sept. 10 – Dallas, Texas (Gexa Energy Pavilion)
Oct. 13 – Salt Lake City, Utah (USANA Amphitheater)
Oct. 14/15 – Morrison, Colorado (Red Rocks Amphitheater)

Charles Kelley Revs Up For The Driver Tour, TV Appearances

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Charles Kelley will release his first solo album, The Driver, on Friday (Feb. 5). The singer-songwriter will celebrate the project with appearances on Good Morning America (Feb. 3), Watch What Happens Live (Feb. 4), and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (Feb. 5).

Additionally, Kelley will embark on The Driver Tour for several dates in April and May. Kelley will bring brother Josh Kelley along as a special guest.

“This album was all about just making something I could be really proud of,” said Kelley. “So, to hear some of the early feedback that people are into the handful of songs that we’ve shared so far really confirms that taking this creative risk was worth it. It’s going to be great to get back out on the road now that we’ve got a full album of new songs to work with, and to have my brother out there with me is going to make it even cooler.”

Several of these tour dates are fulfillments, after they were postponed in December 2015. The tour is presented by Enterprise.

Beginning Friday at charleskelley.com, fans will receive a download of the new album with every ticket transaction.

The Driver Tour Dates:
April 9: Washington, D.C.; The Fillmore
April 11: Boston, Massachusetts; House of Blues
April 13: Cleveland, Ohio; House of Blues
April 14: Chicago, Illinois; House of Blues
April 15: St Louis, Missouri; The Pageant
April 23: Anaheim, California; House of Blues
April 24: San Jose, California; Club Rodeo
April 26: Los Angeles, California; Troubadour
May 1: Houston, Texas; House of Blues
May 3: Nashville, Tennessee; 3rd & Lindsley
May 6: Athens, Georgia; Georgia Theater

Rascal Flatts Discuss Upcoming Las Vegas Residency

Pictured L-R: Jay Demarcus, Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney

Pictured L-R: Jay Demarcus, Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney

Rascal Flatts met with members of the country music media at The Sutler in Nashville on Friday morning (Jan. 29). They discussed their second Las Vegas residence, which will begin next month at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The Joint seats approximately 4,000 people.

The band compared playing the smaller venue to their days playing as a bar band.

“We had gotten so used to playing amphitheaters and arenas that seat 15,000+ people,” says the band’s Jay DeMarcus. “It’s fun to do a more intimate show where it feels like we’re connecting with the crowd. We started out as a bar band. There are elements from those days that we talk about all the time that we miss. You can’t manufacture the feeling of connecting with a small crowd and connecting with every single person in the room. When we were just starting out playing covers down on Printers Alley, we could see the crowd dancing and knew what they wanted so we can feed off them. With an arena show, everything is more mapped out and you lose that spontaneity. With a crowd like we’ll have at The Joint, you can keep the spontaneity, some of that energy and some of that freshness.”

Rascal Flatts Rhythm & Roots will run from Wednesday, Feb. 17 through Saturday, March 5.

Tickets are available at the Hard Rock Hotel box office, or by calling 888.9.AXS.TIX or online at axs.com.

Frankie Ballard Lines Up International Tour Dates for March

Frankie Ballard. Photo: Drew Reynolds

Frankie Ballard. Photo: Drew Reynolds

Frankie Ballard is taking his energetic live shows internationally this year, with nine concerts scheduled in the UK and Germany in March.

Ballard will make his debut performance at London’s Country to Country (C2C) Festival on March 11 and 13, with gigs on the Yamaha Stage and during a C2C After Show Party

“This is my first time overseas, and if I’m honest, I’m both nervous and excited to see how we’re received,” said Ballard, who is slated to release a new album in 2016. “What can I say? It’s a big deal for me. I know one thing though, we’re gonna be bringin’ the heat.”

Frankie Ballard European Tour Dates
March 11 – London, UK, Country to Country Festival
March 13 – London, UK, Country To Country Festival
March 14 – Birmingham, UK, O2 Institute 3
March 15 – Glasgow, UK, King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut
March 16 – Manchester, UK, Deaf Institute
March 17 – London, UK, Hoxton Bar and Kitchen
March 20 – Hamburg, DE, Rock Cafe
March 21 – Berlin, DE, Frannz Club
March 22 – Munich, DE, Backstage