Taylor Swift. Photo: Beth Garrabrant

Taylor Swift continued to cement her place in music history this year, breaking records throughout 2022 with the debut of her tenth studio album Midnights on Oct. 21 via Republic Records/Universal Music Group.

In just two months, Midnights has achieved over six million album equivalent units worldwide–three million in the U.S. alone–making her the only artist ever to have five albums with over a million units during release week. The blockbuster release moved almost 1.6 million during its debut week and is the first album to sell over a million physical albums since 2015.

“Taylor’s achievements over the past year have been absolutely spectacular! With more than two dozen historic milestones set by Midnights, it’s nearly unimaginable for any artist to sell more than six million albums in less than eight weeks during any era of our business,” notes Republic Records Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Monte Lipman. “These accomplishments further exemplify Taylor’s prowess as the consummate artist and storyteller defining a generation.”

Swift shattered streaming, physical and vinyl album sales milestones around the world as Midnights became the fastest-selling album of her career and she became the first artist in history to capture the entire top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. She has 36.6 billion combined streams of her music and 22.4 million album-equivalent units to-date in 2022.

The superstar also earned multiple awards this year, including: six American Music Awards (Artist of the Year, Country Female Artist, Pop/Rock Female Artist, Music Video, Country Album & Pop Album), extending her lead as the most awarded artist in AMA history; three People’s Choice Awards; the NSAI Songwriter of the Decade; three MTV Video Music Awards; four MTV EMA’s; and four Billboard Music Awards; among others.

Swift has also been nominated for a string of upcoming awards including: four Grammys for Song of The Year (“All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (The Short Film)”), Best Country Song, Best Music Video and Best Song Written for Visual Media for “Carolina” from the motion picture soundtrack to Where The Crawdads Sing. “Carolina” was also recently nominated for a Golden Globe Award, Critics Choice Award and Hollywood Critics Association Award. “Carolina” was also named to the Oscar shortlist for Best Original Song in 2023.

Universal Music Group Chairman & CEO, Sir Lucian Grainge adds, “Taylor is a multidimensional creative force whose achievements place her among the most accomplished artists in the history of music, and we are thrilled and honored to partner with her across so many aspects of her career.”

In 2023, Swift will embark on her “The Eras Tour,” playing 52 stadium shows in the U.S.

DelFest is celebrating its 15th year in 2023 and has announced the initial lineup for next year’s festival. The multi-day event will take place at the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Maryland from May 25-28.

Next year’s lineup once again reflects the all-encompassing musical community that festival hosts The Del McCoury Band have cultivated over the years. DelFest 2023 will feature St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Trampled By Turtles, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, The Infamous Stringdusters, The California Honeydrops, Sierra Ferrell, Sierra Hull, Rising Appalachia, The Tim O’Brien Band, Peter Rowan & The Free Mexican Air Force with Los Texmaniacs, Lindsay Lou, Cris Jacobs, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Troubadour Session, Kitchen Dwellers, The Broomestix, Junior Sisk, Price Sisters, Handmade Moments, and Birches Bend.

In addition to traditional stage sets by the artists, attendees can see collaborations, special guest sit-ins, various tributes to McCoury and his musical legacy, and intimate appearances from the artists. Delfest will be immediately preceded by the three day DelFest Academy hosted by The Travelin’ McCourys and other all-star players.

Discounted Advance 4-Day passes are available now. Other pass options, including DELuxe VIP packages, on-site RV passes and parking, will go on sale in the coming weeks.

Trees for Keith Urban, Maddie & Tae, and Reba McEntire

Gaylord Opryland Resort’s 39th annual A Country Christmas event is hosting Parade of Trees from Universal Music Group Nashville, a display of Christmas trees decorated by Alan Jackson, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Jon Pardi, Jordan Davis, Kacey Musgraves, Luke Bryan, Maddie & Tae, Sam Hunt and Tyler Hubbard.

Along with their trees, the country stars have each donated VIP experiences, including fly-aways, VIP concert experiences, exclusive merchandise and more, to benefit First Responders Children’s Foundation. Proceeds raised will provide scholarships and mental health services to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty, including a new collaboration with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals for the local Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

“The holidays are a special time when people come together to celebrate and be thankful for their blessings,” McEntire shares. “This holiday season, I’m thankful I can help raise awareness for the First Responders Children’s Foundation, which supports the children and families of first responders who risk their lives every day to serve our communities. I hope everyone will go to charitystars.com/paradeoftrees to enter to win and support the families of this wonderful organization.”

Some of the themes and experiences this year include McEntire’s red, green and gold tree celebrating her Christmas album, The Ultimate Christmas Collection, paired with a VIP trip to New York City to see her live at Madison Square Garden. Keith Urban’s tree represents his song “Wild Hearts” with a “Live In Las Vegas” flyaway, including travel and accommodations, a meet and greet, and hand-signed personalized guitar. Meanwhile, Luke Bryan’s “Country On” themed tree comes paired with a Las Vegas VIP Experience, including flights, hotel, VIP entrance, preshow toast with Bryan, and signed memorabilia.

Other artist packages include VIP festival experiences, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade getaways, stadium flyaways, exclusive numbered prints, signed guitars, custom toy packages from Mattel, and more.

The Parade of Trees is on display in the resort’s Garden Conservatory and Cascades Atrium through Jan. 10 as a self-guided tour of the Christmas trees decorated specifically to the artist’s style or album theme. Each VIP experience will be available for bid online until Jan. 10.

Musicians On Call (MOC) will host its Millions of Moments event at the Wildhorse Saloon on Jan. 26. The organization will also mark a major milestone as they tally performances for more than one million people in hospitals nationwide since its founding in 1999.

UMG Nashville recording artist Darius Rucker will be recognized for more than a decade of support for MOC as he receives the Music Heals Golden Ukulele. Additionally, UMG Nashville Vice President of Media Marketing, Leigh Parr Malleus, will receive the Leadership in Music Golden Ukulele for serving as a Volunteer Guide for MOC’s Nashville-area hospital programs and connecting artists to MOC’s programs and live music campaigns.

The evening will also recognize the volunteers, artists, hospital partners, patients, families, and caregivers, and will feature special appearances and performances from Sam Hunt, The War And Treaty, and Jon Pardi. Tickets go on sale on Dec. 27 at 10 a.m. CT.

“From our early days bringing music to a single hospital, to playing virtually for over 250,000 patients and caregivers nationwide during the pandemic, our organization has grown tremendously since 1999. This evening will allow us to celebrate these accomplishments and the people who are a part of them,” notes Musicians On Call President & CEO Pete Griffin. “Honoring Darius’ and Leigh’s volunteer work with us, before, during, and since the pandemic, is a wonderful way to not only highlight their dedication and generosity, but also to spotlight the many chapters of MOC’s evolution.”

Guests at the event will be the first to experience a new proprietary, online platform that will transform MOC’s program delivery model and enable the organization to scale dramatically. MOC will also debut its new logo, revamped website, and fresh branding.

The public will be able to participate in a silent auction ahead of the event and bid on items such as signed guitars furnished by Gibson Guitars, red carpet access, and artist experiences.