Photo: David “Doc” Abbott

Joe Nichols will kick off 2022 with the release of a long-awaited new album, Good Day For Living, on Feb. 11. A new song from the project, “Screened In,” written by Neil Thrasher and Anthony Jerome Martin, is out today.

The 13-song collection, his inaugural project for Quartz Hill Records and 10th studio album, ushers in a new era of classic country from Nichols. Good Day For Living reunites the traditionalist with producers Mickey Jack Cones and Derek George, who helmed his 2013 album Crickets which featured the back-to-back Gold hits “Sunny and 75” and “Yeah.” Cones also produced Nichols’ follow-up album Never Gets Old.

“For the first time in a long time, I don’t feel any pressure,” Nichols said. “I’m around great people. I’m the type of person who’s always striving for more, but I’ve reached a place where I’m grateful for everything I’ve accomplished so far. It’s been such a good run. I feel at peace, and that has freed me up to make new music that’s very honest.”

Other songs releasing in advance of the full album include “I Wanna Be Your Tonight” (Dec. 10) and the title track,” Good Day For Living” (Jan. 28).  The entire project is a nod to Nichols’ traditional roots, showcasing his baritone on dancehall stunner “Brokenhearted,” the light and fun “I Got Friends That Do,” featuring Blake Shelton, and the classic country tear-jerker “She Was.”

Good Day For Living – Track List:
1. “Brokenhearted” (Rhett Akins, Marv Green, John Thomas Harding)
2. “I Got Friends That Do” (feat. Blake Shelton) (Danick Dupelle, Tebey Ottoh, Jimmy Thow)
3. “Home Run”* (Ashley Gorley, Dallas Davidson, Ross Copperman)
4. “Dance With the Girl” (Jason Gantt, John Pierce, Emily Shackelton)
5. “I Wanna Be Your Tonight” (Philip O’Donnell, Wade Kirby, Marv Green)
6. “Good Day For Living” (Dave Cohen, Bobby Hambrick, Neil Mason)
7. “Screened In” (Neil Thrasher, Anthony Jerome Martin)
8. “That’s How I Grew Up” (Steven McMorran, Josh London, Adam Craig)
9. “Reckon” (Derek George, Randy Montana, Jeremy Stover)
10. “Why Can’t She” (Adam Craig, Jon Nite, Matt Rogers)
11. “One Two Step Closer”* (Justin Lantz, Clint Daniels, Lance Miller)
12. “Hawaii on Me”^ (Chris Janson, Will Nance, Kelly Roland)
13. “She Was” (Neal Lee Coty, Jimmy Edward Melton)

Luke Combs. Photo: Zack Massey

Newly-crowned CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs is launching a mini headlining stadium tour next year that will include performances at Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High on May 21, Seattle’s Lumen Field on June 4, and Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 30. Special guests on the dates include Cody Johnson, Zach Bryan and Morgan Wade.

Tickets for the newly confirmed shows will be available for pre-sale starting next Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. local time through Ticketmaster Verified Fan, with general on-sale following on Nov. 19.

Combs surprise-released his new song, “Doin’ This,” a personal reflection on his own life and career, earlier this week, debuting it live during the CMA Awards broadcast. His current single, “Cold As You,” is Top 5 and rising at radio, and is his seventh single released from What You See Ain’t Always What You Get. Combs also recently released his new song “South On Ya,” which has been selected as the official theme song for the SEC Network’s 2021 football season.

“This week has been a whirlwind–got to debut a new song on the CMAs, release the song and music video to my fans, and announce three stadium shows at NFL stadiums. Talk about a week! It will be hard to top this one,” admits Combs.

Luke Combs Tour Dates:
Nov. 16—New Orleans, LA—Smoothie King Center
Nov. 18—Dallas, TX—American Airlines Center
Nov. 19—Dallas, TX—American Airlines Center
Nov. 20—Memphis, TN—FedEx Forum
Nov. 29—New York, NY—Madison Square Garden
Nov. 30—New York, NY—Madison Square Garden
Dec. 2—Boston, MA—TD Garden
Dec. 3—Boston, MA—TD Garden
Dec. 15—Las Vegas, NV—T-Mobile Arena
Dec. 16—Salt Lake City, UT—Vivint Smart Home Arena
March 11, 2022—Glasgow, Scotland—C2C Festival at The SSE Hydro
March 12, 2022—Dublin, Ireland—C2C Festival at 3Arena
March 13, 2022—London, England—C2C Festival at The O2
March 20, 2022—Toronto, ON—Scotiabank Arena
March 21, 2022—Toronto, ON—Scotiabank Arena
March 24, 2022—Ottawa, ON—Canadian Tire Centre
March 26, 2022—Quebec City, QC—Videotron Centre
March 28, 2022—Montreal, QC—Centre Bell
March 30, 2022—London, ON—Budweiser Gardens
March 31, 2022—London, ON—Budweiser Gardens
May 1, 2022—Indio, CA—Stagecoach
May 21, 2022—Denver, CO—Empower Field at Mile High
June 4, 2022—Seattle, WA—Lumen Field
July 7, 2022—Cavendish, PEI—Cavendish Beach Music Festival
July 9, 2022—Ottawa, ON—RBC Bluesfest
July 23, 2022—Columbus, OH—Buckeye Country Superfest
July 30, 2022—Atlanta, GA—Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Scott Stachelski. Photo: Matt Berinato

Sony Music Nashville has elevated Scott Stachelski to Senior Vice President, Finance.

In Stachelski’s new role, he will continue to oversee the finance department and Sony Music Nashville’s day to day financial operations, including internal and external reporting, deal analysis, forecasting, budgeting and analysis. He joined Sony Music Nashville as Director of Finance in 2006, and rose to his previous position of Vice President of Finance in 2017.

Stachelski is a Clark, New Jersey native and a graduate of Pace University’s Lubin School of Business with a BBA in Public Accounting and a CPA. Prior to moving to Nashville, he was Director of Financial Reporting for Sony BMG Entertainment and Senior Internal Auditor for BMG Entertainment.

Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, Ken Robold, says: “It gives me great pleasure to be able to promote someone of Scott’s caliber, both as a professional and as a person. In addition to his in-depth knowledge of all elements of Label Finance, Scott continually demonstrates his understanding of all the nuances of label decision making, which makes him an invaluable employee and a great teammate.”

“I would like to thank Ken Robold for his leadership and support,” adds Stachelski. “I am humbled and honored to continue overseeing the finance team. It is privilege to work with Sony Music Nashville’s extremely talented staff and gifted roster of artists with Randy Goodman at the helm.”

Stachelski can be reached at scott.stachelski@sonymusic.com.

Pictured (L-R): WSM Radio Host Bill Cody, Blake Shelton and Ryman Hospitality Properties Chairman/CEO Colin Reed. Photo: Erika Goldring

A new Ole Red location in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip is slated to open in 2023. Blake Shelton joined Ryman Hospitality Properties yesterday at a press conference to announce plans for the new venue, marking the brand’s sixth location.

Located in front of Caesars Entertainment’s Bally’s Las Vegas at the Grand Bazaar Shops, the planned Ole Red Las Vegas project will be the company’s first Western location. The company revealed plans to spend approximately $30 million developing the four-story building, which will feature a main dining floor and two additional guest floors overlooking a central stage with state-of-the-art video, acoustics and lighting.

Renderings of the Las Vegas Ole Red location.

Guests will also enjoy food, beverages and a live music experience on an expansive 4,500 square-foot rooftop while taking in the Las Vegas cityscape. The Shelton-inspired menu will feature food and cocktails that are unique to the Las Vegas location and infused with southern hospitality. At approximately 27,000 square feet with a planned 686 seats, Ole Red Las Vegas is slated to be the brand’s largest location to date.

“I know what it’s like to be a young musician playing bars and small venues, never knowing what to expect. I’m proud that we’re building a network of places where artists can get the kind of exposure playing live that is so critical for growing their fan base,” said Shelton. “Having these locations for artists to play in different parts of the country is a dream come true.”

“Las Vegas is one of the most important leisure playgrounds on the planet with over 40 million tourists a year,” added Colin Reed, chairman and chief executive officer of Ryman Hospitality Properties. “As we expand this brand into tourist and convention-focused markets, Las Vegas is a natural fit since many of its top feeder markets are home to high concentrations of country lifestyle consumers. We are excited to have the opportunity to develop a flagship Ole Red location on such a coveted piece of commercial real estate within the Caesars Entertainment empire where over 100,000 people walk by each day.”