The nominations were recently announced for the the upcoming Billboard Music Awards, with duo Florida Georgia Line as this year’s top country nominee. The duo garnered six nominations including Top Duo/Group, Top Country Artist, Top Country Album (Dig Your Roots), two entries in the Top Country Song category (“May We All” ft. Tim McGraw, and “H.O.L.Y.”), and Top Country Collaboration (“May We All,” ft. Tim McGraw).
FGL is up against Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton and Jason Aldean in the Top Country Artist category.
The Dixie Chicks vie with Luke Bryan and Kenny Chesney for the Top Country Tour honor.
Bryan is also nominated in the all-genre, fan-voted category Billboard Chart Achievement Award Presented by Xfinity. The Chainsmokers, Nicki Minaj, Twenty One Pilots and The Weeknd are also nominated.
Keith Urban also garnered three nominations, for Top Country Artist, Top Country Album (Ripcord), and Top Country Song (“Blue Ain’t Your Color”). Kenny Chesney also received three nominations, for Top Country Tour, as well as for Top Country Song and Top Country Collaboration (both for “Setting The World On Fire” ft. P!nk).
Hillary Scott & The Scott Family garnered three nominations, including Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Album (Love Remains), and Top Christian Song (“Thy Will”).
Joey+Rory also earned a nomination in the Top Christian Album category, for Hymns.
The Lumineers earned nominations for Top Rock Artist and Top Rock Album (Cleopatra).
Lauren Daigle also garnered three nominations, for Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Album (How Can It Be) and Top Christian Song (“Trust In You”). Kirk Franklin garnered three nominations, for Top Gospel Artist, Top Gospel Song (“Wanna Be Happy?”) and Top Gospel Album (Losing My Religion).
Drake and The Chainsmokers lead the pack with 22 nominations each, tying the all-time record for most nominations in a single year. Drake’s nominations include, among others, Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist and Top Billboard 200 Album. The Chainsmokers’ nominations include double nods in six categories: Top Dance/Electronic Album, Top Hot 100 Song, Top Selling Song, Top Radio Song, Top Collaboration and Top Dance/Electronic Song, with single nominations in 10 other categories.
The Billboard Music Awards will broadcast live from T-Mobile Arena on Sunday, May 21 at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT on ABC.
Select Categories Are Included Below:
Billboard Chart Achievement Award Presented by Xfinity (Fan Voted Category – Voting Opens 5/1):
Luke Bryan
The Chainsmokers
Nicki Minaj
Twenty One Pilots
The Weeknd
Top Duo/Group:
The Chainsmokers
Coldplay
Florida Georgia Line
Guns N’ Roses
Twenty One Pilots
Top Country Artist:
Florida Georgia Line
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban
Chris Stapleton
Jason Aldean
Top Country Tour:
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Dixie Chicks
Top Rock Artist:
Coldplay
The Lumineers
Metallica
Twenty One Pilots
X Ambassadors
Top Christian Artist:
Lauren Daigle
Hillsong Worship
Hillary Scott & The Scott Family
Skillet
Chris Tomlin
Top Gospel Artist:
Jekalyn Carr
Kirk Franklin
Travis Greene
Tamela Mann
Hezekiah Walker
Top Country Album:
Jason Aldean, They Don’t Know
Florida Georgia Line, Dig Your Roots
Blake Shelton, If I’m Honest
Chris Stapleton, Traveller
Keith Urban, Ripcord
Top Rock Album:
The Lumineers Cleopatra
Metallica Hardwired…To Self-Destruct
Radiohead A Moon Shaped Pool
Red Hot Chili Peppers The Getaway
Twenty One Pilots Blurryface
Top Christian Album:
Casting Crowns The Very Next Thing
Lauren Daigle How Can It Be
Joey + Rory Hymns
Hillary Scott & The Scott Family Love Remains
Skillet Unleashed
Top Gospel Album:
Tamela Mann One Way
Kirk Franklin Losing My Religion
Travis Greene The Hill
Tasha Cobbs One Place: Live
Hezekiah Walker Better: Azusa – The Next Generation 2
Top Country Song:
Kenny Chesney Featuring P!NK “Setting The World On Fire”
Florida Georgia Line “H.O.L.Y.”
Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw “May We All”
Little Big Town “Better Man”
Keith Urban “Blue Ain’t Your Color”
Top Country Collaboration:
Dierks Bentley Featuring Elle King “Different For Girls”
Kenny Chesney Featuring P!NK “Setting The World On Fire”
Eric Church Featuring Rhiannon Giddens “Kill A Word”
Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw “May We All”
Chris Young Featuring Vince Gill “Sober Saturday Night”
Top Christian Song:
Lauren Daigle “Trust In You”
Hillary Scott & The Scott Family “Thy Will”
Skillet “Feel Invincible”
Ryan Stevenson Featuring GabeReal “Eye Of The Storm”
Zach Williams “Chain Breaker”
Top Gospel Song:
Jekalyn Carr “You’re Bigger”
Tasha Cobbs Featuring Kierra Sheard “Put A Praise On It”
Kirk Franklin “Wanna Be Happy?”
Travis Greene “Made A Way”
Hezekiah Walker “Better”
Grand Ole Opry Delivers New Subscription Boxes
/by Lorie HollabaughThe first Opry Box, “Opry Friends,” celebrates friendships between Opry artists and the stars and their fans and includes Brad Paisley on the cover of the magazine, a travel mug commemorating Little Jimmy Dickens, the DVD/Blu-ray American Saturday Night: Live From The Grand Ole Opry featuring Paisley, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, Brett Eldredge, and The Band Perry, and other surprises.
Subscriptions including four seasonal boxes are $140 plus shipping and available now at opry.com and at 1-800-SEE-OPRY. Single boxes are available as well for $40 plus shipping.
Relive Country’s Greatest Decade Tonight
/by Sarah SkatesSome of country’s hottest rising stars will take fans on a trip through the ‘90s tonight (April 11) at Exit/In in Nashville. Slated to perform are Adam Craig, Adam Sanders, Craig Campbell, Dustin Lynch, Lauren Alaina and Michael Ray. Surprise guests are also expected.
Storme Warren will host the sold-out show titled “90s’s Night: One of the Greatest Decades of Country Music.” Doors open at 7 p.m. and showtime is at 8.
Weekly Register: Artists See Post-ACM Awards Sales Bumps
/by Jessica NicholsonMiranda Lambert. Photo: Becky Fluke
The recent Academy of Country Music Awards resulted in sales bumps for several performers.
Miranda Lambert‘s The Weight Of These Wings moved to No. 1 on the Nielsen Soundscan country albums rankings, moving 23K this week (318K RTD). Her sales increased 946 percent after her performance of “Tin Man” on the awards show.
Keith Urban, who performed both “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” as well as “The Fighter” alongside Carrie Underwood, saw his sales increase 87 percent (Underwood’s sales increased 68 percent). His album Ripcord, lands at No. 2 this week on the country albums chart, with 17K sold.
Trace Adkins‘ debut release on Wheelhouse Records (BBR Music Group), Something’s Going On, debuts at No. 3 country, selling 13K.
Reba, who collaborated with CCM performer Lauren Daigle on “Back To God,” is at No. 4 this week. Her album Sing It Now sold 10K this week. She saw a 72 percent increase in sales after her ACM performance.
Meanwhile, Chris Stapleton, who performed his new track “Second One To Know,” sees his album Traveller round up the Top 5 with 8.6K.
Other debuts include Rodney Crowell‘s New West Records debut Close Ties at No. 8 on the country albums rankings with 5.1K sold. The Mavericks debut at No. 10 country with Brand New Day selling 4.9K, while Dailey & Vincent debut at No. 44 with Patriots and Poets, selling 846.
Sam Hunt
On the country digital tracks rankings, every song in the Top 5 was performed during the recent ACM Awards.
Sam Hunt continues to hold on to the No. 1 country digital track slot, with “Body Like A Back Road” selling 70K this week.
Thomas Rhett‘s new single “Craving You” (featuring Maren Morris), debuts at No. 2, with 54K. Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood‘s “The Fighter” is at No. 3, with 53K. Miranda Lambert’s “Tin Man” is at No. 4, with 45K, while Lady Antebellum‘s “You Look Good” is at No. 5 with 41K.
Overall digital track sales are down 24.1 percent YTD, while country digital track sales are down 22.6 percent YTD.
Information provided by Nielsen Soundscan.
Dylan Schneider To Release EP ‘Spotlight’s On You’ April 14
/by Jessica NicholsonDylan Schneider
Dylan Schneider is set to release his new EP, Spotlight’s On You, this Friday, April 14. The five-song EP features songs penned by Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, Thomas Rhett, Jesse Frasure, Ross Copperman, Dallas Davidson, and more. Schneider contributed two co-writes to the EP, on the songs “Grew Up Slower” and “You I Used To Know.”
The EP, produced by Aaron Eshuis, marks Schneider’s third release; he debuted with EP Wannabe in August 2016. In October, he released the follow-up EP 17, which reached No. 3 on iTunes and No. 34 on Billboard‘s Hot Country Albums chart.
“Getting back into the studio for this new EP was an absolute blast,” said Schneider. “I loved creating this new music and can’t wait to put it out for all my fans to hear.”
Schneider has earned a social following of nearly 800,000, collecting over 32 million video views.
Spotlight’s On You track listing:
1. Rockstar (Chris DeStefano/Ashley Gorley/Thomas Rhett)
2. Grew up Slower (Dylan Schneider/Jesse Frasure/Josh Miller)
3. It’s a Guy Thing (Stephen DeLoach/Nate Kenyon/Ben Wells)
4. Fireworks (Ross Copperman/Dallas Davidson/Ashley Gorley)
5. You I Used to Know (Dylan Schneider/Aaron Eshuis/Neil Medley)
Kenny Chesney Rounds Out 2017 Schedule With Four New Concert Dates
/by Lorie HollabaughKenny Chesney has announced the final four shows of his 2017 concert schedule, with two dates in Alabama and two in Connecticut.
Chesney will play the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater in Alabama on Aug. 4 and The Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach, Ala. on Aug. 5, followed by two nights at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. on Aug. 10 and 11. All summer shows are presented by Chesney’s Blue Chair Bay Rum.
“As long as we’re rehearsing and I’ve got new music in the pipeline, I can’t imagine not playing a little bit,” says Chesney. “I know that it takes time off to create and make records… to write and find songs like ‘American Kids’ and ‘Noise,’ but that doesn’t mean I don’t miss the fans. There is nothing that feeds me more than hearing the sound of the No Shoes Nation singing these songs, seeing those faces and knowing this is gonna be one of those nights.”
General tickets for the remaining dates go on sale to the public April 14.
CMT Renews ‘Nashville’ For Season Six
/by Jessica NicholsonNashville will return to CMT for a new 16-episode season, beginning in early 2018. CMT announced news of the show’s renewal for a sixth season on Monday (April 10). The network has also revealed a midseason premiere date for season five of Thursday, June 1 at 9 p.m. ET. Longtime SVOD partner Hulu will continue to stream episodes the day after they premiere on CMT.
Additionally, actresses Rachel Bilson and Kaitlin Doubleday will join the show in the second half of season five. Jeff Nordling will recur his role of record exec Brad Maitland.
Nashville has averaged 2.1 million weekly viewers (L+7). Over the first half of the season, the series garnered nearly 16 million total viewers on CMT, and nearly 23 million on CMT and Nick at Nite.
In coming weeks, CMT will announce its full 2017-2018 programming lineup.
In Pictures: Tortuga Music Festival Brings Bryan, Chesney, Stapleton For Sold-Out Event
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): AJ Niland, Chairman and Chief Experience Officer/HUKA Entertainment; Evan Harrison, CEO/Huka Entertainment; Alan Jackson; Jaclyn D. Carter, Sr. Account Executive/Shore Fire Media; Rebecca Shapiro, Vice President, Shore Fire Media; Dan Merker, VP of Talent/HUKA Entertainment
The Tortuga Music Festival, produced by Huka Entertainment, brought in more than 100,000 people for its fifth annual event, which included Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Alan Jackson, Nelly, Slightly Stoopid, and Maren Morris. The event was held over the weekend at Ft. Lauderdale Beach Park in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
“It’s a tremendous feeling to see Tortuga grow it’s fifth year in a row,” said Evan Harrison, CEO, Huka Entertainment. “The energy from the artists and fans fueled by our festive beach setting truly create a magical experience.”
“We kept the music going,” said A.J. Niland, Chairman and Chief Experience Officer, HUKA Entertainment. “We really stepped up our crowd flow this year, from VIP to Super VIP to the new staging, to the newly created Reef viewing area allowing our GA fans an intimate experience with our headline artists.”
Millions also tuned in on Facebook Live to watch surprise pop-up performances curated by Tortuga and Grand Ole Opry. These “Opry Circle Throwdowns” featured performances by Drake White, Granger Smith, Michael Ray and others.
Alan Jackson performs at Tortuga Music Festival. Photo: Tortuga/Flickr
Chris Stapleton performs at Tortuga Music Festival. Photo: Tortuga/Flickr
Kenny Chesney performs at Tortuga Music Festival. Photo: Tortuga Music Fest/Flickr
Dustin Lynch performs at Tortuga Music Festival. Photo: Tortuga/Flickr
Columbia/Blue Chair’s Kenny Chesney along with radio friends from WKIS, WIRK, WFUS, WKLB, WQMX. Plus Morris Higham Management’s Buffy Cooper and the label’s Samantha Borenstein, Lyndsay Church and Lauren Thomas Fowler at Tortuga Music Festival
Drake White performs at Tortuga Music Festival. Photo: Tortuga/Flickr
Pictured (L-R): Tim Conlon (WKIS), Luke Combs, Kristin Bianchi, Lyndsay Church (SE Columbia Nashville)
Alan Jackson performs at Tortuga Festival. Photo: Tortuga/Flickr
Maren Morris performs at Tortuga Music Festival. Photo: Tortuga/Flickr
Granger Smith performs at Tortuga Music Festival. Photo: Tortuga/Flickr
ASCAP To Offer Members Mastering Access Through LANDR
/by Lorie HollabaughAs part of the new association, all ASCAP members will be given exclusive access to LANDR’s Basic Subscription plus one HD WAV per month at no charge, including unlimited mastering of demos, live sets, DJ mixes, or even rough studio jam sessions. With this, songwriters and composers can now improve the sound quality of anything they produce, even projects without a mastering budget.
“Songwriters and composers are the heart and soul of music and ASCAP’s mission is to support them creatively and professionally at every stage of their careers,” said Elizabeth Matthews, ASCAP Chief Executive Officer. “Together with LANDR, we are offering them a valuable tool that they can use to bring their music to the world. In the future, ASCAP members can look forward to more best-in-class benefits that meet their needs and create more opportunities for them to succeed.”
“Road Less Traveled” Leads To No. 1 For Lauren Alaina, Meghan Trainor, Jesse Frasure
/by Jessica NicholsonLauren Alaina, Meghan Trainor
Lauren Alaina, Meghan Trainor, and Jesse Frasure have plenty to celebrate this week, as “Road Less Traveled” leads to the top of the Nielsen Soundscan rankings and the MediaBase country airplay charts.
“The Road Less Traveled,” which Alaina penned with Frasure and Trainor, marks Alaina’s first No. 1 country song, and Trainor’s second. Trainor also co-wrote the Rascal Flatts 2015 chart-topper “I Like The Sound Of That.”
“I cannot believe I have the number one song in the country,” Alaina said. “I have dreamed of this day my entire life. The five singles, the ups and downs, the tears, the smiles, and the six years of hard work have made this moment so much sweeter. I am so thankful to everyone who helped me get to this point. Regardless of my future, I get to live the rest of my life saying I have written a No. 1 song. Life made.”
Jesse Frasure
Trainor has been with Nashville’s Big Yellow Dog Music since age 17. Trainor has had six singles certified double platinum or greater by the RIAA, including “All About That Bass,” “Lips Are Movin,” and “No.” She won a Grammy for Best New Artist in 2016 and also has received three ASCAP Pop Music Awards for her songwriting. Trainor has written songs for Fifth Harmony, Jennifer Lopez, Little Mix, DJ Khaled, Michael Buble, Jason Derulo, and others.
“Meghan’s ability to continue to write for others is a reflection of the depth of her writing abilities,” says Big Yellow Dog Music co-owner Carla Wallace. “I love that Meghan wrote ‘Road Less Traveled’ with two of her Nashville friends, Lauren and Jesse Frasure. This makes her second No. 1 with Jesse. I also love that this song embodies Meghan’s natural ability to empower girls!”
Frasure’s string of hits also includes Jon Pardi’s recent No. 1 “Dirt On My Boots,” Florida Georgia Line’s “Sun Daze,” Thomas Rhett’s “Crash and Burn,” and Rascal Flatts’ “I Like The Sound Of That.” In 2016, Frasure teamed with Roc Nation and Warner/Chappell Music to form Rhythm House, which includes Frasure’s own writing and production activities, as well as the signing and development of other composers and producers.
Florida Georgia Line Tops 2017 ‘Billboard’ Music Awards Country Nominees
/by Jessica NicholsonThe nominations were recently announced for the the upcoming Billboard Music Awards, with duo Florida Georgia Line as this year’s top country nominee. The duo garnered six nominations including Top Duo/Group, Top Country Artist, Top Country Album (Dig Your Roots), two entries in the Top Country Song category (“May We All” ft. Tim McGraw, and “H.O.L.Y.”), and Top Country Collaboration (“May We All,” ft. Tim McGraw).
FGL is up against Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton and Jason Aldean in the Top Country Artist category.
The Dixie Chicks vie with Luke Bryan and Kenny Chesney for the Top Country Tour honor.
Bryan is also nominated in the all-genre, fan-voted category Billboard Chart Achievement Award Presented by Xfinity. The Chainsmokers, Nicki Minaj, Twenty One Pilots and The Weeknd are also nominated.
Keith Urban also garnered three nominations, for Top Country Artist, Top Country Album (Ripcord), and Top Country Song (“Blue Ain’t Your Color”). Kenny Chesney also received three nominations, for Top Country Tour, as well as for Top Country Song and Top Country Collaboration (both for “Setting The World On Fire” ft. P!nk).
Hillary Scott & The Scott Family garnered three nominations, including Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Album (Love Remains), and Top Christian Song (“Thy Will”).
Joey+Rory also earned a nomination in the Top Christian Album category, for Hymns.
The Lumineers earned nominations for Top Rock Artist and Top Rock Album (Cleopatra).
Lauren Daigle also garnered three nominations, for Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Album (How Can It Be) and Top Christian Song (“Trust In You”). Kirk Franklin garnered three nominations, for Top Gospel Artist, Top Gospel Song (“Wanna Be Happy?”) and Top Gospel Album (Losing My Religion).
Drake and The Chainsmokers lead the pack with 22 nominations each, tying the all-time record for most nominations in a single year. Drake’s nominations include, among others, Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist and Top Billboard 200 Album. The Chainsmokers’ nominations include double nods in six categories: Top Dance/Electronic Album, Top Hot 100 Song, Top Selling Song, Top Radio Song, Top Collaboration and Top Dance/Electronic Song, with single nominations in 10 other categories.
The Billboard Music Awards will broadcast live from T-Mobile Arena on Sunday, May 21 at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT on ABC.
Select Categories Are Included Below:
Billboard Chart Achievement Award Presented by Xfinity (Fan Voted Category – Voting Opens 5/1):
Luke Bryan
The Chainsmokers
Nicki Minaj
Twenty One Pilots
The Weeknd
Top Duo/Group:
The Chainsmokers
Coldplay
Florida Georgia Line
Guns N’ Roses
Twenty One Pilots
Top Country Artist:
Florida Georgia Line
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban
Chris Stapleton
Jason Aldean
Top Country Tour:
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Dixie Chicks
Top Rock Artist:
Coldplay
The Lumineers
Metallica
Twenty One Pilots
X Ambassadors
Top Christian Artist:
Lauren Daigle
Hillsong Worship
Hillary Scott & The Scott Family
Skillet
Chris Tomlin
Top Gospel Artist:
Jekalyn Carr
Kirk Franklin
Travis Greene
Tamela Mann
Hezekiah Walker
Top Country Album:
Jason Aldean, They Don’t Know
Florida Georgia Line, Dig Your Roots
Blake Shelton, If I’m Honest
Chris Stapleton, Traveller
Keith Urban, Ripcord
Top Rock Album:
The Lumineers Cleopatra
Metallica Hardwired…To Self-Destruct
Radiohead A Moon Shaped Pool
Red Hot Chili Peppers The Getaway
Twenty One Pilots Blurryface
Top Christian Album:
Casting Crowns The Very Next Thing
Lauren Daigle How Can It Be
Joey + Rory Hymns
Hillary Scott & The Scott Family Love Remains
Skillet Unleashed
Top Gospel Album:
Tamela Mann One Way
Kirk Franklin Losing My Religion
Travis Greene The Hill
Tasha Cobbs One Place: Live
Hezekiah Walker Better: Azusa – The Next Generation 2
Top Country Song:
Kenny Chesney Featuring P!NK “Setting The World On Fire”
Florida Georgia Line “H.O.L.Y.”
Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw “May We All”
Little Big Town “Better Man”
Keith Urban “Blue Ain’t Your Color”
Top Country Collaboration:
Dierks Bentley Featuring Elle King “Different For Girls”
Kenny Chesney Featuring P!NK “Setting The World On Fire”
Eric Church Featuring Rhiannon Giddens “Kill A Word”
Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw “May We All”
Chris Young Featuring Vince Gill “Sober Saturday Night”
Top Christian Song:
Lauren Daigle “Trust In You”
Hillary Scott & The Scott Family “Thy Will”
Skillet “Feel Invincible”
Ryan Stevenson Featuring GabeReal “Eye Of The Storm”
Zach Williams “Chain Breaker”
Top Gospel Song:
Jekalyn Carr “You’re Bigger”
Tasha Cobbs Featuring Kierra Sheard “Put A Praise On It”
Kirk Franklin “Wanna Be Happy?”
Travis Greene “Made A Way”
Hezekiah Walker “Better”