Coffee, Country & Cody, the long-running morning show on Nashville’s 650 AM WSM, will be simultaneously broadcast as a television series on The Heartland Network starting on Feb. 1.

Heartland is a division of Luken Communications, which offers diverse, family-friendly programming. Its networks reach approximately 80 percent of all U.S. households through over-the-air, cable and satellite television. The Luken network portfolio also includes Rev’n, Retro TV, TUFF TV, PBJ, The Family Channel and Frost Great Outdoors (FGO).

Currently in its 22nd year, Coffee, Country & Cody is hosted by Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry emcee Bill Cody, along with his producer and sidekick, Charlie Mattos. The show broadcasts from the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.

“We are honored to join the Heartland Network. I believe that consumers are yearning for genuine and authentic entertainment,” said Chris Kulick, WSM General Manager. “I know that 650 AM WSM listeners and Heartland viewers will embrace the warmth of one of the most sincere personalities in the world, Bill Cody.”

Matthew Golden, Luken’s Vice President of Programming, said, “WSM and Heartland are dedicated to preserving the legacy of the legends of country music, both classic and contemporary. I can’t think of any show that would speak more directly to the core of the Heartland audience.”

Heartland officially debuted in 2013 with programming comprised of syndicated and first-run shows, as well as digitally-restored content. The program lineup includes Reflections with host Keith Bilbrey, Bluegrass Ridge, Country Fix, Country Standard Time, Music City Tonight, Texas Music Scene, Gaither Gospel Hour, classic episodes of Crook & Chase and several popular music video blocks.

Andy Grammer’s “Honey, I’m Good.” and Blake Shelton’s “Sangria” topped the list of country dance favorites in 2015, according to Marco Club Connection’s annual ranking of country dance club songs.

Andy Grammer

“Honey, I’m Good.” was a major pop hit that received a significant boost among country fans when Eli Young Band released a collaborative version of the song with Grammer to country radio and dance venues. Shelton’s “Sangria” and Luke Bryan’s “Kick The Dust Up” ranked No. 2 and No. 3 respectively.

The Nashville-based Marco Club Connection surveys a panel of nearly 250 club owners, DJs and dance instructors from across the country to compile its rankings every December. Overall votes by the panel determine each song’s placement on the list.

The list was a mixture of new and established artists with Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” placing as the sixth most popular song among dancers, while newcomers Sam Hunt, A Thousand Horses and Mo Pitney all had their first placement on the annual list.

Zac Brown Band was the only artist to be represented twice in the Top 10 with “Homegrown” and “Beautiful Drug” coming in at No. 8 and No. 10.

The results of the 2015 Top 10 Country Dance Club Hits are:
1. “Honey, I’m Good.” – Andy Grammer
2. “Sangria” – Blake Shelton
3. “Kick The Dust Up” – Luke Bryan
4. “House Party” – Sam Hunt
5. “Crash and Burn” – Thomas Rhett
6. “Girl Crush” – Little Big Town
7. “Boy & A Girl Thing” – Mo Pitney
8. “Homegrown” – Zac Brown Band
9. “Smoke” – A Thousand Horses
10. “Beautiful Drug” – Zac Brown Band

View a complete archive of Marco Club Connection’s Top 10 Country Dance Club Hits.

George Jones’ recordings for his label imprint Bandit Records have been acquired by Concord Bicycle Music. The assets were obtained from Jones’ widow, Nancy Jones, according to a Concord Bicycle statement.

The master recordings included in the deal include 2001’s The Rock, 2005’s The Gospel Collection and Hits I Missed…And One I Didn’t, 2006’s Kickin’ Out The Footlights Again (with Merle Haggard), and 2008’s duets collection Burn Your Playhouse Down. The catalog also contains various Roy Acuff track masters and assorted George Jones compilations.

In a separate transaction, Concord Bicycle Music has also acquired the catalog of Americana label HighTone Records from Shout! Factory. The transaction includes master recordings from Buddy Miller, The Blasters, and many others.

“Concord Bicycle Music is proud to be the new home for these fantastic and historic recordings,” said Steven Salm, Chief Corporate Development Officer, Concord Bicycle Music. “HighTone and Bandit represent an important niche in the American independent music culture and fit perfectly within our existing catalog.”

“The HighTone and Bandit catalogs exemplify a deeply rooted and evocative part of America’s musical heritage,” added Sig Sigworth, SVP Catalog Management & Development, Concord Bicycle Music. “We’re proud to add these stellar works to Concord Bicycle Music’s already extraordinary collection of country, folk, blues and Americana master recordings.”

Chris Janson

Chris Janson will headline a free concert for the Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV) organization at the Mabee Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Friday (Jan. 22).

Area veterans, military service members and their families are invited to attend the event, also open to the public. It is presented in partnership with AMVETS, the Department of Defense Vietnam War Commemoration, Soldier’s Wish and Tulsa’s Coffee Bunker.

A national, nonprofit organization, HHV was founded to provide therapeutic arts and crafts to America’s veterans and active duty military. In 2009, HHV expanded its mission to include a concert series to not only entertain, but to educate Americans about the contributions of war veterans and the military.

“Our goal is to offer therapeutic assistance to our nation’s veterans and military, to improve emotional health and ease the transition to civilian life,” said HHV’s Chairman of the Board, John (Jack) M. Meagher, Judge (Retired), a Vietnam War veteran. “At our concerts, we are able to educate the public about the tremendous sacrifices these individuals made. We look forward to hosting another big night to honor the brave men and women who risked their lives for our freedom. Every concert in this series is an experience to witness.”