Global superstars Florida Georgia Line are returning to the road this fall with the I Love My Country Tour 2021, presented by Old Camp and sponsored by T-Mobile.
Kicking off the much-anticipated tour at Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood in Atlanta on Sep. 24, FGL has invited Russell Dickerson as direct support, plus Lauren Alaina and Redferrin as openers on all dates. The 29-stop trek will wrap Nov. 20 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.
“Touring is back, y’all! This is the longest we’ve gone without being on the road, and we’ve been counting down the days until we can finally say – we’re going on tour! Thank you to our fans for all of your support with our new music over the past year, we truly can’t wait to bring these tunes to the stage,” shares FGL’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley. “We’re excited to see your faces, feel the energy, and bring some good vibes to your city this fall. Let’s make some new memories!”
FGL’s fan club, FGL Lifers, will have first access to pre-sale tickets starting Friday, May 28 at 10 a.m. local time, while Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase pre-sale tickets beginning Tuesday, June 1 at 10 a.m. local until Thursday, June 3. Produced by Live Nation, tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, June 4 at 10 a.m. local time here.
FGL’s I Love My Country Tour Dates:
9/24 | Atlanta, GA – Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood
9/25 | New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center
9/26 | Houston, TX – Toyota Center
9/30 | Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
10/1 | Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
10/2 | Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center
10/7 | Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
10/8 | Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre
10/9 | Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
10/14 | Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena
10/15 | Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center
10/16 | St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
10/21 | Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
10/22 | Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
10/23 | Washington, DC – Jiffy Lube Live
10/28 | Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
10/29 | Chicago, IL – United Center
10/30 | Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
11/4 | San Diego, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
11/5 | Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
11/6 | Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
11/7 | Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center
11/11 | Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
11/12 | Los Angeles, CA – The Forum
11/13 | San Bernardino, CA – Glen Helen Amphitheater
11/16 | Denver, CO – Ball Arena
11/17 | Salt Lake City, UT – Vivint Smart Home Arena
11/19 | Portland, OR – Moda Center
11/20 | Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, More Added To CMT Music Awards Performers
/by Lydia FarthingCMT has revealed the second round of performers for the 2021 CMT Music Awards. Hosted by Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown, the show will air Wednesday, June 9 at 7:00 p.m. CST on CMT, MTV, MTV2, Logo, Paramount Network and TV Land.
Adding to its already impressive list of performers, this year’s 2021 CMT Music Awards will feature even more first-time performances and crossover collaborations.
The full list of second round performers includes Breland and Mickey Guyton; Carrie Underwood and NEEDTOBREATHE; Chris Young and Kane Brown; Kelsea Ballerini and Paul Klein from LANY; Lady A, Carly Pearce, and Gabby Barrett; Lauren Alaina and Jon Pardi; Luke Bryan; and Thomas Rhett.
The CMT Music Award are country music’s only entirely fan-voted award. Voting is now open at vote.cmt.com through Tuesday, June 1. A full list of nominations can be found here.
Nashville Music Equality To Celebrate 1 Year Anniversary With Special Panel
/by Lydia FarthingNashville Music Equality (NME) is coming up on its one year anniversary and will be holding a special Zoom panel to commemorate the achievement.
The event will act as a one year follow-up conversation with the original panel members, including Shannon Sanders (BMI), Mickey Guyton (Grammy-nominated artist), Gina Miller (EOne Nashville), Kortney Toney (WMA), Charlene Bryant (Riveter Management), Candice Watkins (Big Loud), and a special addition, Brian Sexton (Creatives Day).
Nearly 1 year ago, NME began as a panel for #BlackoutTuesday and #TheShowMustBePaused where over 1,000 industry professionals tuned in to hear about the stories of their African American colleagues. Because of the community’s support, the organization was formed and has continued to bring top-notch conversations to the masses.
A year later, the panel will see what progress has been made and re-commit to the work ahead for the industry at large.
How Far Have We Come – Nashville Music Equality’s 1 Year Anniversary will be held on June 1 at 5:30 p.m. CST. To register for the event, click here.
Doubling Down: Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood Add More Vegas Dates
/by Lorie HollabaughLuke Bryan, Carrie Underwood
After announcing residencies in Las Vegas recently, country music powerhouses Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood have both added more dates to their respective runs due to demand.
Bryan has added three more show dates to his headlining run at The Theatre at Resorts World Las Vegas due to strong pre-sale ticket demand. The new dates, Feb. 23, 25, and 26, along with previously announced February 2022 dates, went on sale this week at AXS.com.
Underwood has also added six new show dates to her Vegas engagement, REFLECTION: The Las Vegas Residency, due to high demand. The new dates from March 23 – April 2, 2022 have been added to her run opening Dec. 1, 2021. The six new dates, along with previously-announced December dates, went on sale to the public this week.
Underwood and Bryan are among the founding headliners, that also include Celine Dion and Katy Perry, at the Strip’s highly-anticipated new 3,500-room luxury destination, which is set to open June 24. The 5,000-capacity, world-class theatre will open its doors in November 2021 and is exclusively programmed and operated by Concerts West / AEG Presents.
Provident CEO/President Terry Hemmings To Be Inducted Into Alumni Hall Of Fame
/by Lydia FarthingTerry Hemmings
President and CEO of Provident Entertainment Terry Hemmings will be a 2020-2021 inductee into the University of Kentucky’s Gatton College Alumni Hall of Fame.
This prestigious award honors successful alumni of the Gatton College of Business and Economics and its predecessors, the College of Business and Economics and the College of Commerce. This accolade recognizes alumni who have earned exceptional success within their careers and communities, enhancing the reputation of Gatton College through their professional achievement, personal accomplishments, and service to their alma mater.
“What a tremendous honor to be inducted into the Business School’s Hall of Fame,” Hemmings shares. “Thinking back on my years at the University of Kentucky, there are so many wonderful memories and many friends I am still in close touch with. That experience, along with the exceptional teaching I received, provided many tools that I still use every day of my professional career. I am so grateful to be included in the Hall of Fame alongside the other distinguished alumni and a few friends who have received this honor in past years.”
Hemmings runs Provident Entertainment, a Sony Music Entertainment company under the umbrella of Sony Music Nashville, which includes Provident Label Group, RCA Inspiration, Essential Worship, Essential Music Publishing, Provident Films, and Essential Sound. Based in Franklin, Tennessee, Provident Entertainment is home to Casting Crowns, Zach Williams, Kirk Franklin, Koryn Hawthorne, Travis Greene, Matt Maher, Marvin Sapp, Matthew West, Elevation Worship, and more Christian artists.
Hemmings currently serves as Secretary and Treasurer on the Recording Academy’s Board of Trustees. He sits on their Executive Committee, Membership Committee, and Planning/Governance Committee, and also serves as Chair of the Audit/Finance Committee. As a Leadership Music alum, he serves on boards of the RIAA, Gospel Music Association, and The Gospel Music Trust Fund.
The virtual ceremony for all inductees will be held Thursday, May 27. Further details can be found here.
Double Down Music Makes First Signings With Blake Bollinger, Clara Calaway
/by Lydia FarthingPictured (L-R): Erin Kidd, Creative Director, Double Down Music; Ryan Dokke, PIA Music CEO; Blake Bollinger; PIA Music Group founder Dallas Davidson
Double Down Music, a recently launched publishing division of PIA Music Group, has inked its first set of deals with producer and songwriter Blake Bollinger and songwriter Clara Calaway.
Texas native Bollinger has landed cuts with Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker, Justin Moore, Locash, Parmalee, Niko Moon, Rodney Atkins, Trea Landon, High Valley, Caylee Hammock, Meghan Patrick, Mickey Guyton, Kylie Morgan, and others. Blake has also had several songs featured on CBS, ABC, NBC, and MTV.
His production credits include Atkins, Locash, Brett Eldredge, and he is currently co-producing projects with Landon and Jacob Lutz, as well as producing Craig Campbell and Nate Kenyon. Bollinger has done programming for the last three Aldean records as well as the most recent Blake Shelton album.
Pictured (L-R): Erin Kidd, Creative Director, Double Down Music; Ryan Dokke, PIA Music CEO; Clara Calaway; PIA Music Group founder Dallas Davidson; Lauren Lieu, Creative Director, Double Down Music
Clara Calaway, formerly Clara Henningsen, began her career as part of her family trio The Henningsens, with dad Brian and brother Aaron. The Henningsens co-wrote The Band Perry’s singles “You Lie” and “All Your Life” as well as several other album tracks on both The Band Perry’s self-titled debut album and follow-up, Pioneer. The trio also landed cuts with Wynonna Judd, Sara Evans, Billy Currington and Highway 101 as well as their own “American Beautiful” for their Arista Nashville debut in 2013.
Joy Oladokun Gears Up For Her Major Label Debut Album
/by Lorie HollabaughJoy Oladokun. Photo: Nolan Knight
Singer-songwriter and new Americana Award nominee Joy Oladokun will release her major label debut, In Defense Of My Own Happiness, on Friday, June 4 via Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records.
With In Defense Of My Own Happiness, Oladokun shares the unique perspective she’s gained from living in today’s world as a Black, queer woman and first-generation child of Nigerian immigrants. The new record features 14 songs including “Bigger Man,” a song written and performed with Maren Morris, along with “Sunday,” “Breathe Again,” and recently unveiled tracks, “Sorry Isn’t Good Enough,” “Jordan,” and “Wish You The Best”featuring Jensen McRae.
In celebration of the new music, Oladokun will perform a special full-band show at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley on Sunday, June 20 and will continue to tour throughout the year including performances at Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits, as well as several dates supporting Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.
Born in Arizona and now living in Nashville, Oladokun has received widespread attention in the past year, including performances of “Breathe Again” on NBC’s TODAY and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The song received a key placement on NBC’s This Is Us, propelling the track to No. 3 on Shazam’s U.S. Top 200 while also charting globally. Her music has also been featured on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, ABC’s Station 19 and Showtime’s The L Word.
1. Someone That I Used To Be
2. Sunday
3. Sorry Isn’t Good Enough
4. I See America
5. Wish You The Best (Feat. Jensen Mcrae)
6. Let It Be Me
7. Bigger Man (Feat. Maren Morris)
8. If You Got A Problem
9. Mighty Die Young
10. Breathe Again
11. Heaven From Here (Feat. Penny & Sparrow)
12. Look Up
13. Taking The Heat
14. Jordan
The Recording Academy Announces More Updated Rules For Grammy Awards
/by Lydia FarthingThe Recording Academy has released the latest Grammy Awards Rules and Guidelines, which reflect changes for next year’s 64th Annual Grammy Awards. The news of the new rule amendments come just after the Academy announced several significant changes to its nomination process, including the elimination of nominations review committees in general and genre fields.
Included in the new amendments are a few changes that apply to the Album Of The Year Category. The new amendment states that all credited artists, songwriters, producers, recording engineers, mixers, and mastering engineers are eligible to be Grammy nominees and recipients in the Album Of The Year category. Previously, contributors were required to be credited with at least 33% or more to be eligible.
Additionally, an album must also contain over 75% of newly recorded (within five years of the release date), previously unreleased recordings to be eligible for Grammy consideration, as opposed to the current eligibility rule of 50%. Best Compilation Soundtrack, Best Historical Album, Best Immersive Audio Album, Best Recording Package, Best Special Package, and Best Album Notes will accept albums of recordings that are not newly recorded, however. This eligibility rule goes into effect for the 65th Annual Grammy Awards taking place in 2023, unlike all of the other updated rules that were announced, which will go into effect for the upcoming 64th annual Grammy Awards, set for April 3, 2022.
“Our peer-driven awards process is all about engagement, and nothing is more invigorating than seeing our members take part in submitting proposals to move the Academy forward,” says Chair & Interim President/CEO of the Recording Academy Harvey Mason Jr. “We’re proud to work alongside today’s music creators to ensure their vision for the music industry is reflected in all that we do, and to continue our commitment to transparency by making these updates readily available to anyone that wishes to submit their art for Grammy recognition.”
Other rule amendments include the Best Dance Recording category being renamed to Best Dance/Electronic Recording; a second optional Technical Grammy Award being added and specifically reserved for a company, organization or institution who has made groundbreaking and influential contributions to the recording field; and academy members or their designated publicists now being restricted to FYC (for your consideration) emails, social media posts and physical mailings that promote only their own recordings, prohibiting lobbying on behalf of other members.
The full list of rule amendments for the 64th Grammy Awards can be found here.
Nominees Revealed For 2021 Americana Honors & Awards
/by LB CantrellThe nominees for the 20th annual Americana Honors & Awards were announced today (May 26) at the National Museum of African American Music in downtown Nashville.
Keb’ Mo’ and Old Crow Medicine Show‘s Ketch Secor served as hosts for the nomination ceremony. Attendees and livestream viewers were also treated to performances by Allison Russell, Valerie June, and the hosts.
“We’re delighted to see our incredible membership recognize such an array of talent,” said Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association. “Every one of these musicians is a trailblazer in their own right, and I’m thrilled to see that these nominees and their works have resonated so deeply within our community.”
The Americana Awards will take place at the Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 22, as part of the Americana Fest.
Brandi Carlile, Kathleen Edwards, Jason Isbell, Margo Price and Billy Strings are up for Artist of the Year at the Americana Honors & Awards. Sturgill Simpson, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Valerie June, Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit, and Sarah Jarosz are among the Album of the Year nominees.
Charley Crockett, Amythyst Kiah, Joy Oladokun, Allison Russell, and Waxahatchee are nominees for Emerging Artist of the Year.
Nominees for the Americana Honors & Awards are below:
Artist of the Year:
Album of the Year:
Song of the Year:
Emerging Artist of the Year:
Duo/Group of the Year:
Instrumentalist of the Year:
Faster Horses Festival Returning With Jason Aldean, Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett, More
/by Lorie HollabaughJason Aldean, Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett
Faster Horses Festival has announced the first wave of performers for this year’s event taking place July 16-18 in Brooklyn, Michigan.
Jason Aldean, Luke Combs and Thomas Rhett are set to headline the upcoming festival. The three were originally set to headline the 2020 event, which was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other artists set to perform on the three-day festival include Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Russell Dickerson, Riley Green, Hardy, Chris Lane, Tracy Lawrence, David Lee Murphy, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Mitchell Tenpenny and DeeJay Silver, with more artists to be announced in the coming weeks.
Full ticketing and lineup details for the rescheduled dates are available at fasterhorsesfestival.
Florida Georgia Line To Hit The Road On I Love My Country Tour
/by Lydia FarthingGlobal superstars Florida Georgia Line are returning to the road this fall with the I Love My Country Tour 2021, presented by Old Camp and sponsored by T-Mobile.
Kicking off the much-anticipated tour at Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood in Atlanta on Sep. 24, FGL has invited Russell Dickerson as direct support, plus Lauren Alaina and Redferrin as openers on all dates. The 29-stop trek will wrap Nov. 20 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.
“Touring is back, y’all! This is the longest we’ve gone without being on the road, and we’ve been counting down the days until we can finally say – we’re going on tour! Thank you to our fans for all of your support with our new music over the past year, we truly can’t wait to bring these tunes to the stage,” shares FGL’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley. “We’re excited to see your faces, feel the energy, and bring some good vibes to your city this fall. Let’s make some new memories!”
FGL’s fan club, FGL Lifers, will have first access to pre-sale tickets starting Friday, May 28 at 10 a.m. local time, while Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase pre-sale tickets beginning Tuesday, June 1 at 10 a.m. local until Thursday, June 3. Produced by Live Nation, tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, June 4 at 10 a.m. local time here.
FGL’s I Love My Country Tour Dates:
9/24 | Atlanta, GA – Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood
9/25 | New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center
9/26 | Houston, TX – Toyota Center
9/30 | Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
10/1 | Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
10/2 | Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center
10/7 | Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
10/8 | Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre
10/9 | Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
10/14 | Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena
10/15 | Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center
10/16 | St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
10/21 | Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
10/22 | Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
10/23 | Washington, DC – Jiffy Lube Live
10/28 | Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
10/29 | Chicago, IL – United Center
10/30 | Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
11/4 | San Diego, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
11/5 | Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
11/6 | Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
11/7 | Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center
11/11 | Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
11/12 | Los Angeles, CA – The Forum
11/13 | San Bernardino, CA – Glen Helen Amphitheater
11/16 | Denver, CO – Ball Arena
11/17 | Salt Lake City, UT – Vivint Smart Home Arena
11/19 | Portland, OR – Moda Center
11/20 | Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena