LANCO. Photo: Matthew Berinato

Double-Platinum country band LANCO returns today after their No. 1 debut album, dropping the impassioned, outsiders anthem “Rival.” The rowdy track represents the first taste of the Arista Nashville-signed band’s upcoming second album.

With Jay Joyce returning as producer, frontman Brandon Lancaster and drummer Tripp Howell co-wrote “Rival,” marking Howell’s first appearance as a writer on a LANCO project. The track was built from an off-kilter groove that Howell took to Lancaster after a show one night, which morphed into the two writing “Rival” on the back of their tour bus.

“There’s so much pressure to be like someone else or to live up to some outside expectation, especially with social media and how perfect it makes everything look,” said Lancaster. “We wrote this song from the perspective of no matter where you come from, be proud of who you are and the way you’re creating your own path. And if anyone doesn’t like it, just chalk them up as a rival and keep doing your thing.”

“We realized that everyone has faced something they have to stand up against. It isn’t about fitting into any mold, it’s about sticking up for what you believe in and having that crew of friends around that will always have your back,” Howell added. “That’s definitely a big part of our story. We didn’t know anything or anyone when we started out trying to break into this business, and I think that underdog mentality really drove us in the beginning.”

With the success of their debut album Hallelujah Nights and No. 1 single “Greatest Love Story,” the country band has seen a whirlwind of a year. LANCO was chosen to perform at the esteemed CRS New Faces show, they were nominated for Vocal Group of the Year at the 2018 CMA Awards, and are currently nominated for New Duo Or Group Of The Year as well as Group Of The Year at the ACM Awards.

As far as touring goes, they supported Dierks Bentley on his 2018 Mountain High Tour, they just wrapped up their own headlining tour with UMG Nashville artist, Caylee Hammack, and they are currently supporting Luke Combs on his Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour.

“It was amazing to be playing shows every night in these beautiful theaters or really awesome rock clubs and people singing not only your singles but singing along to like track seven of the record,” said bassist, Chandler Baldwin. “It was one of the most fulfilling things that I’ve gotten to do.”

The band is still writing their follow-up album to Hallelujah Nights, but the first taste, “Rival,” is out now.

Ashley McBryde.

Warner Music Nashville artist Ashley McBryde has earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Musical Performance. The “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” singer is being honored for her performance on CBS This Morning Saturday.

She joins fellow nominees Israel and Adrienne Houghton (for their performance on The Real), Lindsey Stirling‘s performance on Live with Kelly and Ryan, The Band’s Visit on The Today Show, and Ben Rector‘s performance on Pickler and Ben.

McBryde is also nominated in the recently-announced AIMP Awards’ Publisher Pick category, for “Girl Goin’ Nowhere.” She will perform on the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards on April 7, where she is nominated for New Female Artist of the Year. McBryde also has a collaboration on Brooks & Dunn’s upcoming Reboot project, where she offered vocals on “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone.” She will perform during CMA Music Festival, on the Chevy Riverfront Stage.

Representatives of the international music brand, Nashville Meets London (NML), have announced the return of Nashville Meets London Week, set for July 24-27, 2019.

Kicking off the event series is Nashville Meets London Presents at PizzaExpress Live! on Wednesday and Thursday, July 24-25, followed by the return of the Nashville Meets London ‘Southern Fridays’ Boat Cruise, in partnership with Buck’ N Bull Saloon, on Friday, July 26 and the popular Nashville Meets London Music Festival on Saturday, July 27 at Canary Wharf.

Launched in August 2016 as a music festival, Nashville Meets London has developed into a global music brand providing opportunities that support the globalization of country and Americana music. The brand’s mission is to expand on the cultural and economic exchange of music while driving more synergy between the recording and live performance industries in the United States and the UK.

The festival, which has become London’s largest free country music festival, is held at Canada Square Park in Canary Wharf and is part of Canary Wharf’s Arts + Events program. Talent confirmed to appear in 2019 will be announced soon.

The Nashville Meets London Music Festival is co-produced by Peter Conway Management, Christy Walker-Watkins and Matt Watkins of Nashville-based agency, The AristoMedia Group, and Canary Wharf Group. U.K. based radio DJ Baylen Leonard leads the artistic programme and serves as the host. Ascot Travel Services exclusively books travel for the Nashville Meets London Music Festival.

Tickets are available here.

Pictured (L-R): Joe Don Rooney, VP Label Relations at Pandora Jeff Zuchowski, Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus

Rascal Flatts were surprised during a visit to Pandora’s New York office yesterday (March 19), when they were presented with a Billionaire Plaque, commemorating the trio’s success in reaching over four billion streams on Pandora.

The trio’s new single “Back To Life” is currently ascending at country radio and follows back-to-back chart-topping singles “Yours If You Want It” and “I Like The Sound Of That.” They recently dropped a four-song EP, JUKEBOX as a surprise for fans that features special spins on their most-loved songs. The group has also earned over 40 trophies from the ACA, ACM, AMA, CMA, People’s Choice and more, also making them the most-awarded country group of the past decade. Known as one of the hottest-selling touring acts in any genre with over 10 million tickets sold, the trio just announced their headlining Summer Playlist Tour, kicking off in Cincinnati on May 16.

Dierks Bentley will headline a free concert on Saturday, April 27 as part of the 2019 St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & ½ Marathon and 2019 NFL Draft on the Draft Main Stage in downtown Nashville.

“This year’s St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & ½ Marathon and NFL Draft festivities are going to be memorable as we celebrate 20 years in Nashville and the NFL celebrates 100 years,” said Keats McGonigal, Senior Regional Director for Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series. “We are excited to work closely with the NFL and the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. to engage our runners in the numerous events and concerts coinciding with our race and the 2019 NFL Draft. This is especially true on Saturday night with Dierks Bentley, which gives our runners an exciting headliner to celebrate the conclusion of our race in Music City.”

The concert will take place following the day’s selections on the Draft Main Stage which is located on First and Broadway in downtown Nashville. The designated viewing areas will be from Second to Fifth on Lower Broadway and Music City Walk of Fame Park. Throughout the site, there will be food trucks, beer, soft drinks and water, as well as video screens.

In addition, more than 20 Nashville-based acts will perform during the three days of activities on the NFL Draft Experience Stage, including Chip Esten, Rayland Baxter, Mikky Ekko, and Charlie Worsham.