Locash Taps Into Childhood Memories On ‘Woods & Water’

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BBR Music Group/BMG’s Wheelhouse Records’ duo Locash have announced their new EP, Woods & Water, will be available on Nov. 5.

Inspired by each of their childhoods–Chris Lucas grew up in Baltimore on the water and Preston Brust, a preacher’s kid, was raised in Kokomo, Indiana, and surrounded by nature–the EP represents both. With five tracks, each one penned by at least one member of the duo, the collection aims to showcase Locash’s high-energy twang and optimism.

“We can’t wait to share this music! We kept it all on a positive note like we do best, and we collaborated with some bucket list voices and writers. We wanted Woods & Water to be a mini vacation–a getaway,” the pair shares. “Relatable and easy to sing along to, this project hits every feel-good tempo. It’s us. These are the anthems the world needs right now.”

The project’s track list features writers including The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson and Mike Love on a song titled “Beach Boys,” as well as Nashville tunesmiths such as Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip, and Chris LaCorte. Corey Crowder produced the project, with additional production by Clint Lagerberg.

Tallying three Gold-certified career hits, including their 2019 “One Big Country Song,” two No. 1s, two acclaimed albums, and nearly 500 million global streams to their credit, Locash also recently announced their extended global publishing agreement with BMG.

Woods & Water Track List:
1. Beach Boys (Chris Lucas, Preston Brust, Dallas Wilson, Jared Mullins, Brian Wilson, Mike Love)
2. In The Woods (Chris Lucas, Preston Brust, Chris LaCorte, Corey Crowder)
3. Sippin Sunsets (Chris Lucas, Preston Brust, Jason Duke, John Byron)
4. Small Town For Life (Chris Lucas, Preston Brust, Ben Hayslip, Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins)
5. Chillionaire (Preston Brust, Clint Lagerberg, Drew Baldridge)
Tracks 1-4 Produced by Corey Crowder
Track 5 Produced by Clint Lagerberg

Maddie & Tae To Headline 2022 “CMT Next Women Of Country Tour”

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Maddie & Tae will launch their headlining 2022 “CMT Next Women of Country Tour Presents: All Song No Static Tour” beginning in January. Callista Clark and CMT Next Women of Country inductee Sacha will join the duo on each stop of the 16-city tour.

Kicking off Jan. 6 in Oklahoma City, the CMT tour will visit Atlanta, Boston, Houston, New York and more through February with a stop at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl on Feb. 10. Tickets will go on sale beginning this Friday (Oct. 29) at 10 a.m. CT at MaddieandTae.com and CMT.com.

“We are so excited to have CMT’s Next Women of Country tour back on the road and to announce our favorite dynamic duo Maddie & Tae as headliners!” says Leslie Fram, SVP of Music & Talent, CMT.  “I’ve loved having the opportunity to watch their careers soar since we first welcomed them into our program in 2015 and equally thrilled Callista and Sacha–two of our brightest newcomers–will have the opportunity to share the stage and be part of such an amazing tour.”

Maddie & Tae were selected as members of CMT’s Next Women of Country class of 2015, and have released hits including “Girl In A Country Song,” “Fly,” “Friends Don’t,” and their double-Platinum single “Die from a Broken Heart.” With 17 career awards nominations, including a Vocal Duo of the Year nod at the upcoming 55th Annual CMA Awards, Maddie & Tae are readying their next studio project, which will feature their latest single “Woman You Got,” “Life Ain’t Fair,” and more.

CMT launched its Next Women of Country campaign in 2013 to support and expose developing female talent in a male-dominated format. In the six years since its inception, CMT has expanded the initiative to include six Next Women of Country Tours, anchored by acts like Jennifer Nettles, Martina McBride, Sara Evans, and most recently Tanya Tucker. Notable past tour participants include Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, Maren Morris, Mickey Guyton, Ashley McBryde and more.

“CMT Next Women of Country Tour” Dates:
Jan 6 – Town Theatre – Oklahoma City, OK
Jan 7 – House of Blues – Houston, TX
Jan 12 – Brighton Music Hall- Boston, MA
Jan 13 – Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY
Jan 14 – Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD
Jan 15 – Jergel’s Rhythm Grille – Warrendale, PA
Jan 19 – Moonshine Beach- San Diego, CA
Jan 20 – The Roxy – West Hollywood, CA
Jan 21 – Club Rodeo Rio – San Jose, CA
Jan 22 – Goldfield Trading Post – Sacramento, CA
Feb 3 – Elevation at The Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI
Feb 4 – The Castle Theater – Bloomington, IL
Feb 5 – The Bluestone – Columbus, OH
Feb 10 – Brooklyn Bowl – Nashville, TN
Feb 11 – Von Braun Center – Mars Music Hall – Huntsville, AL
Feb 12 – Buckhead Theatre – Atlanta, GA

Caroline Jones Slates Sophomore Project, ‘Antipodes,’ For November 12

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Caroline Jones. Photo: Laura Tait

Singer-songwriter Caroline Jones will release her sophomore album, Antipodes, on Nov. 12, distributed in partnership with ONErpm. A new track from the project, “No Daylight,” is available everywhere now.

Often used to describe parts of the world diametrically opposite, Antipodes was selected as Jones’ sophomore album title as she spent the majority of lockdown in New Zealand working on the album and spending time with her now fiancé. The 13-track record includes features and credits from guests Zac Brown, Joe Bonamassa, Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey, Mac McAnally, and more.

Jones has been on the road this summer performing as a special guest on Zac Brown Band’s “The Comeback Tour,” and she will join the band as an opener for The Rolling Stones on Nov. 11. Later in November, she will play some album release shows in her home state of Florida, and will perform her single, “Chasin’ Me,” on ABC’s The Bachelorette on Tuesday, Oct. 26.

Antipodes Track List:
Getting to Me
Big Love
Come In (But Don’t Make Yourself Comfortable)
Someone Who Wasn’t You
No Daylight
Don’t Talk to Me Like I’m Tiffany (ft. Joe Bonamassa)
Not Love
What a View
If I Don’t Love You
You Have the Most Beautiful…
Chasin’ Me
Everyone’s a Rebel ‘Til They Fall in Love
So Many Skies (ft. Matthew Ramsey)

Del McCoury Gives A Nod To The Working Man On New Project, ‘Almost Proud’

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Del McCoury

Del McCoury is gearing up for the release of a new album, Almost Proud, slated for Feb. 18 on McCoury Music. A sneak peek of the new project, “Running Wild,” is available everywhere now. McCoury started working on the song over 15 years ago and decided to finish when his son/band member Ronnie played him a demo that had been forgotten about.

Almost Proud reflects a blue-collar mindset, with four songs about lost love; a love song tribute to his wife of 57 years, Jean; two cheating songs; two drinking songs; one extolling the virtues of hard work; and one about a working-class hero of the early nineteen hundreds.

The project is packed with songs from a wide variety of writers, including a song written by his good friends Eric Gibson and Mike Barber, “Honky Tonk Nights” featuring the high country vocal of Vince Gill, and an obscure song from a recent Kris Kristofferson album called “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore.”

Over the course of the pandemic, McCoury found himself as engaged and absorbed by music as he was as a teenager, throwing himself into listening to as much music as he could. He listened to well over 200 songs, including some that had been in a neglected box in his music room for over 10 years.

“I’m as excited about listening to new music today as the day I started—finding a new tune or a story that tickles me,” says McCoury. “This album is the best of what I heard while the world was on pause.”

The Del McCoury Band will be back on the road for the remainder of the year, with October stops in Colorado and Wyoming before heading through the Midwest towards the Southeast and East Coast. For a full list of dates and more information, click here.

Almost Proud Track List: 
Almost Proud
Love Don’t Live Here Anymore
Rainbow of My Dream
My Little Darlin’
Running Wild
Brown Paper Bag
Honky Tonk Nights
Once Again
Sid Hatfield’s
The Misery You’ve Earned
Workin’ Man’s Wage
Other Shore

ACM Announces Submission & Voting Timeline, Category Changes For 2022 Awards

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The Academy of Country Music has announced the official dates for submissions and ballots for The 57th Academy of Country Music Awards coming in 2022.

Submissions for The 57th Academy of Country Music Awards️ are now open. The Academy will accept entries through Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021 at 5 p.m. CT. To submit, click here.

Additionally, the ACM Board of Directors approved changes to the Academy’s Studio Recording Awards’ Guitar Player of the Year category, now splitting it into two awards—individually recognizing Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year and Electric Guitar Player of the Year.

The previously awarded Steel Guitar Player of the Year will now be considered within the existing Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year Award category.

In the Radio Awards, the National On-Air Personality of the Year category has also been split to now recognize both a National Weekly On-Air Personality of the Year and a National Daily Personality of the Year.

The Academy of Country Music has also updated the voting security protocols for their Awards, implementing a double-authentication process through a mobile number, rather than through an email address.

“As we approach the 57th ACM Awards cycle, ensuring a secure and efficient voting process for our members is a top priority. We look forward to the implementation of our new double-authentication process and the extra safety layer it will offer in maintaining the integrity of our prestigious ACM Awards,” says Tommy Moore, VP Artist and Industry Relations, Governance and Board Administration. “Additionally, we are thrilled to continue to expand our Awards and to open our arms to celebrate even more radio personalities and studio musicians who help keep this industry running. We look forward to recognizing both acoustic and electric guitar players, as well as national weekly and national daily on-air personalities for the first time this year!”

Key dates are as follows:
Submissions Period Opens: Oct. 25, 2021
Submissions Period Closes: Nov. 30, 2021
First Round Voting Main Awards: Jan. 3, 2022 – January 10, 2022
First Round Voting Radio Awards: Jan. 3, 2022 – January 17, 2022
Second Round Voting Main Awards: Jan. 24, 2022 – January 31, 2022
Final Round Voting Radio Awards: Jan. 24, 2022 – February 7, 2022
Final Round Voting Main Awards: Feb. 21, 2022 – February 28, 2022

The 57th Academy of Country Music Awards will be exclusively streamed on Amazon Prime Video, the first major awards show to be broadcast solely via a streaming platform.

Rhett Akins Catapults To Top 5 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Rhett Akins

Legendary country hitmaker Rhett Akins jumps from No. 10 to No. 5 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week. Akins is a co-writer on “Tequila Little Time” (Jon Pardi) and “To Be Loved By You” (Parker McCollum).

Ashley Gorley remains at No. 1 this week, while Jesse Frasure rises to No. 2 and Hunter Phelps falls to No. 3.

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

Scotty McCreery Announces 2022 “Same Truck Tour”

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Triple Tigers recording artist Scotty McCreey is hitting the road in 2022 on the “Same Truck Tour,” featuring 15 dates across the U.S. with support from Tenille Arts, Callista Clark, and Kameron Marlowe as direct support with King Calaway as the opening act.

Along the way, fans will be able to hear McCreey’s new single, “Damn Strait,” as well as his fourth consecutive No. 1 single, “You Time,” and more from his fifth studio album Same Truck. 

“I am looking forward to kicking off 2022 with my Same Truck Tour,” says McCreery. “I’m also glad to have Tenille, Callista, Kameron and King Calaway joining us for select dates. It’s gonna be a great way to start the new year!”

Tickets go on sale this Friday (Oct. 29) at 10 a.m. local time at ScottyMcCreery.com.

McCreery earned three back-to-back No. 1 hits from his Gold-certified album, Seasons Change: the RIAA Double Platinum-certified “Five More Minutes;” the RIAA Platinum-certified “This Is It,” which stayed at the top of the charts for two weeks; and RIAA Gold-certified “In Between.” McCreey’s single, “You Time,” spent 46 weeks on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart finishing at 19 on Oct. 1.

“Same Truck Tour” Dates:
January 20 // The Ritz*~Raleigh, N.C.
January 21 // American Music Hall*~ Lancaster, Pa.
January 22 // Del Lago Resort & Casino – The Vine*~ Waterloo, N.Y.
January 27 // The Paramount^~Huntington, N.Y.
January 28 // Orange County Fair Speedway^~ Middletown, N.Y.
January 29 // Parx Casino – Xcite Center^~ Bensalem, Pa.
February 3 // Paramount Theater#~ Cedar Rapids, Idaho
February 4 // Treasure Island Resort Casino + Island Event Center#~Welch, Minn.
February 5 //  The District#~ Sioux Falls, S.D.
February 10 // The Fillmore Detroit#~Detroit, Mich.
February 11 // The Intersection#~Grand Rapids, Mich.
February 12 // W.D. Packard Music Hall#~ Warren, Ohio
February 17 // Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts, Salina Kan.
February 18 // The Grizzly Rose, Denver, Colo.
February 19 // Vilar Performing Arts Center, Beaver Creek, Colo.
* Denotes Kameron Marlowe as support
~ Denotes King Calaway as support
^ Denotes Callista Clark as support
# Denotes Tenille Arts as support

Weekly Register: Zac Brown Band Makes Top 3 Debut With ‘The Comeback’

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Warner Music Nashville’s Zac Brown Band earns this week’s top country album debut with their eighth studio album, The Comeback, coming in at No. 3 with 19,000 streams. The new record ranks at No. 27 overall, according to Nielsen.

Dangerous: The Double Album keeps Morgan Wallen‘s spot at No. 1 on the top country streaming albums and the top album overall, nabbing 42,000 streams and adding to its 50 million streams RTD. Wallen also takes the No. 5 spot as If I Know Me adds 14,000 weekly streams. Luke Combs takes up the second position with What You See Is What You Get and the fourth position with This One’s For You gaining 22,000 and 15,000 streams, respectively.

Monument’s Walker Hayes continues his ride at the top of the country streaming songs chart as “Fancy Like” earns another 13 million streams, totaling 207 million RTD, according to Nielsen. “Chasing After You” (Ryan Hurd & Maren Morris) rises to No. 2 as it adds 7.7 million streams, “Buy Dirt” (Jordan Davis & Luke Bryan) rises to No. 3 with 6.4 million streams, and “If I Didn’t Love You” (Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood) falls to No. 4 with 6.2 million streams this week. Chris Stapleton rounds out the top five as “You Should Probably Leave” gains 5.7 million streams.

Big Loud Records Adds ‘The Voice’ Alum Jake Worthington To Roster

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Jake Worthington. Photo: Chris Hornbuckle

Big Loud Records has added rising country artist Jake Worthington to its roster.

Hailing from Texas, Worthington first came on the scene as a finalist on Season 6 of NBC’s The Voice in 2014, and now joins the Big Loud roster that includes Morgan Wallen, Jake Owen, Chris Lane, Hardy, Mason Ramsey, MacKenzie Porter, Ernest, Ben Burgess, Ashland Craft, Larry Fleet, Sean Stemaly, Shawn Austin, Blame My Youth, and Lily Rose.

With over eight million on-demand streams and more than 230,000 social media followers to his credit, Worthington is also signed to Big Loud for publishing and management.

“We’re excited to welcome Jake Worthington to the Big Loud Records family,” Partner/CEO Seth England says. “He’s been putting in the work to build his own authentic brand of country music, and we’re looking forward to teaming up to get his sound on the map.”

“One more piece to the Jake Worthington puzzle has been put down, but it’s not finished,” Manager Troy “Tracker” Johnson shares. “Big Loud Records can’t wait to assist Jake in making what will be the honky-tonk album this city has been waiting for.”

“Country music is all I’ve known for a long while,” Worthington adds. “It’s been my friend, helped me grow and granted me experience and opportunity. I’m honored to work alongside Big Loud Records and am grateful to have a team who wants me to just do what I do—country music. It’s a different feeling knowing that everyone around me believes the music I make has its place in country music. A guy couldn’t ask for more.”

Worthington makes his debut as a Big Loud artist this coming Friday (Oct. 29), featured alongside Ronnie Dunn and Jake Owen on “Jonesin’” in the latest installment of Hixtape: Vol. 2.

The singer-songwriter is currently working on original music with chart-topping co-writers Craig Wiseman, Ernest Keith Smith, Tony Lane and more. Throughout the rest of the year, Worthington will crisscross Texas before visiting The Chelsea in Las Vegas on Dec. 4, Ace of Spades in Sacramento on Dec. 10, and Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa on Dec. 17.

Aaron Lewis Explores Vintage Country Roots On ‘Frayed At Both Ends’

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Aaron Lewis. Photo: Eric Englund

Aaron Lewis is giving fans a taste of his upcoming new album, Frayed At Both Ends, with his new track “Goodbye Town,” featuring harmonica from Mickey Raphael. The new album is set for release Jan. 28 from the Valory Music Co.

Frayed At Both Ends strips back Lewis’ sound with help from guitarists Tom Bukovac, Biff Watson and Seth Taylor, dobroist Ben Kitterman, acoustic slide and baritone Laur Joamets, keyboards from Jim Moose Brown, and acoustic guitar and mandolin from Dan Tyminski.

The 13-track album includes the previously released CreatiVets-penned “They Call Me Doc,” telling the story about a triage soldier that honors the fighting men and women who’ve been injured and those who care for them. With just an acoustic guitar, Lewis is joined by Tyminiski and Vince Gill for the tribute track.

“Big heartache is part of it,” Lewis says. “Country music takes on the tough stuff, the doubts and the working harder to just stay where you are. Writing with guys like Dan Tyminski, who’s sung on some of my earlier records, Jeffrey Steele, Ira Dean, David Lee Murphy and Chris Wallin all have the same sense of what this is, so I can’t wait for people to get to hear this record.

“This is an album of saying things that need to be said about how people actually live,” he continues. “Life isn’t easy. Most people drink to forget, or drive for hours trying to get away from what they can’t let go of or leave behind. Work takes it out of you. Love falls short or destroys you. Disappointments stack up. But still you have to keep going–and how you do that says everything about the man that you are.”

Fans can pre-order the album now and receive “Goodbye Town,” along with “Am I The Only One,” which spent the 4th of July at No. 1 on iTunes all-genre chart, as well as marked only the ninth song since 1958 to debut at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.

Frayed At Both Ends Track List:
1. “Again” | Aaron Lewis, Ira Dean, David Lee Murphy
2. “Goodbye Town” | Aaron Lewis, Randy Montana
3. “Everybody Talks To God” | Craig Monday, Chris Wallin
4. “Am I The Only One” | Aaron Lewis, Ira Dean, Jeffrey Steele
5. “Kill Me Like You Love Me” | Aaron Lewis, Ira Dean, Dan Tyminiski, Chris Wallin
6. “Pull Me Under” | Aaron Lewis
7. “Life Behind Bars” | Aaron Lewis, Josh Hogue, Matt McGinn
8. “Waiting There For Me” | Aaron Lewis, Ira Dean, Dan Tyminiski, Chris Wallin
9. “They Call Me Doc” featuring CreatiVets, Vince Gill, Dan Tyminiski | Shaun Bott, Richard Casper, Brian Carper, Jourdan Walker, Johnny McGuire
10. “Get What You Get” | Aaron Lewis, Ira Dean, Dan Tyminiski
11. “Sticks And Stones” | Aaron Lewis, Paul Barber, Matt McGinn
12. “One In The Same” | Aaron Lewis, Trent Tomlinson
13. “Someone” | Aaron Lewis, Paul Barber, Matt McGinn