CLICK to Order the Artist Roster
Born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana,
Hunter Hayes has been making music since about the time he learned to walk. As he recounts, “By the time I was almost two, I was picking up everything and making an instrument out of it. My grandmother gave me a toy accordion for my second birthday and I immediately began picking up Cajun songs by ear from the radio.”
Despite being in the early stage of his career, Hayes already has a long list of accomplishments: Singing “Jambalaya” with Hank Williams Jr. in front of 200,000 people (15 million YouTube views) at the age of four; appearing with Robert Duvall (who gave Hayes his first guitar) in The Apostle at the age of six; playing with Johnny and June Cash, and Charlie Daniels at a BBQ; performing for President Clinton, co-writing songs for Rascal Flatts and Montgomery Gentry and more. You might say that he’s lived a charmed life.
Now Hayes, in the producer’s chair with Dann Huff (Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins) is in the studio preparing to record what he calls his debut album in 2011. “I’ve released independent records before, but this feels like the first real record I’m making—with the high stakes,” he says excitedly. For Hunter, even with those high stakes, he’s committed to doing it his way. With plans on “playing everything on the album, having fun and experimenting.”
Among the many extraordinary things about Hunter Hayes, the multi-talented musician, writer, producer and performer, perhaps what is most astonishing is that in truth, he’s just getting started.
Interesting facts: I’m a total gear geek. I could spend days on studio gear websites and days talking with engineers about Pro Tools and all things studio related. I could literally LIVE in a recording studio!
Outside Interests: I’m a bit of a car nut so I spend what is probably too much time watching a British car show called, Top Gear. Other than that it’s pretty much music, music and in my off time, more music – just in different forms. I cycle from touring to writing to the studio. That cycle is enough to keep it fresh and interesting while breaking from the other aspects.
Musical Influences: Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Bryan White, Brooks & Dunn, John Mayer, Ronnie Milsap, Michael Buble.
Favorite Records: I have several. One is Keith Urban’s Defying Gravity, I can just sing along to every song on that record. Love the musicality of it as well, super hooky and tasteful. Also, Me and My Gang by Rascal Flatts. It was the first record they made with Dann Huff and it’s super cool musically and lyrically, I totally relate to some of those tunes. Continuum by John Mayer, brilliant musical record. Battle Studies was more lyrical for me and I loved it for that reason. And MercyMe’s Coming Up to Breathe was such a brilliantly moving record.
Lady Antebellum To "Own The Night" With New Tour
/by Freeman“We named our new album Own The Night after one of our favorite songs ‘We Owned The Night’ off the new album, and felt it was a great description of how we wanted our fans to spend each night of tour with us,” explains Lady A’s Dave Haywood. “When people come out to our live show or hear the song on the radio it’s a call to action. Be confident, live in the moment and enjoy the experiences you’re going through—own them.”
The 21-city arena tour will feature guests Josh Kelley (on all dates) as well as Edens Edge or Randy Montana opening select shows. Tickets for opening night go on sale Aug. 26. Full dates and guest details:
Own The Night 2011 Tour:
11/11 — Knoxville, Tenn. — Knoxville Coliseum*
11/12 — Macon, Ga. — Macon Centreplex*
11/13 — Pikeville, Ky. — East Kentucky Expo Center*
11/16 — El Paso, Texas — El Paso County Coliseum*
11/17 — Phoenix, Ariz. — Grand Canyon University*
11/18 — Las Vegas, Nev. — The Joint @ The Hard Rock*
11/25 — Huntsville, Ala. — Von Braun Civic Center**
11/26 — Florence, S.C. — Florence Civic Center**
11/27 — Savannah, Ga. — Savannah Civic Center**
12/1 — Colorado Springs, Colo. — Colorado Springs World Arena**
12/2 — Lubbock, Texas — City Bank Coliseum**
12/3 — Wichita Falls, Texas — Kay Yeager Coliseum**
12/4 — Belton, Texas — Bell County Expo Center**
12/8 — La Crosse, Wis. — La Crosse Center Arena**
12/9 — Sioux City, Iowa — Tyson Center**
12/10 — Springfield, Mo. — JQH Arena**
12/11 — Murray, Ky. — CFSB Center**
12/15 — Amherst, Mass. — The Mullins Center**
12/16 — Wilkes-Barre, Pa. — Mohegan Sun Arena**
12/17 — Roanoke, Va. — Roanoke Civic Center**
12/18 — Morgantown, W.Va. — WVU Coliseum**
*With Randy Montana
**With Eden’s Edge
2011 Artist Roster—On The Cover: Hunter Hayes
/by contributorCLICK to Order the Artist Roster
Born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, Hunter Hayes has been making music since about the time he learned to walk. As he recounts, “By the time I was almost two, I was picking up everything and making an instrument out of it. My grandmother gave me a toy accordion for my second birthday and I immediately began picking up Cajun songs by ear from the radio.”
Despite being in the early stage of his career, Hayes already has a long list of accomplishments: Singing “Jambalaya” with Hank Williams Jr. in front of 200,000 people (15 million YouTube views) at the age of four; appearing with Robert Duvall (who gave Hayes his first guitar) in The Apostle at the age of six; playing with Johnny and June Cash, and Charlie Daniels at a BBQ; performing for President Clinton, co-writing songs for Rascal Flatts and Montgomery Gentry and more. You might say that he’s lived a charmed life.
Now Hayes, in the producer’s chair with Dann Huff (Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins) is in the studio preparing to record what he calls his debut album in 2011. “I’ve released independent records before, but this feels like the first real record I’m making—with the high stakes,” he says excitedly. For Hunter, even with those high stakes, he’s committed to doing it his way. With plans on “playing everything on the album, having fun and experimenting.”
Among the many extraordinary things about Hunter Hayes, the multi-talented musician, writer, producer and performer, perhaps what is most astonishing is that in truth, he’s just getting started.
Outside Interests: I’m a bit of a car nut so I spend what is probably too much time watching a British car show called, Top Gear. Other than that it’s pretty much music, music and in my off time, more music – just in different forms. I cycle from touring to writing to the studio. That cycle is enough to keep it fresh and interesting while breaking from the other aspects.
Musical Influences: Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Bryan White, Brooks & Dunn, John Mayer, Ronnie Milsap, Michael Buble.
Favorite Records: I have several. One is Keith Urban’s Defying Gravity, I can just sing along to every song on that record. Love the musicality of it as well, super hooky and tasteful. Also, Me and My Gang by Rascal Flatts. It was the first record they made with Dann Huff and it’s super cool musically and lyrically, I totally relate to some of those tunes. Continuum by John Mayer, brilliant musical record. Battle Studies was more lyrical for me and I loved it for that reason. And MercyMe’s Coming Up to Breathe was such a brilliantly moving record.
Networks In Bidding War For CMA Awards
/by Sarah SkatesAccording to Vulture, NBC, CBS, and ABC are all offering big bucks to score the coveted broadcast rights to Country Music’s Biggest Night.
The news has also been picked up by the LA Times.
CBS is home to the ACM Awards show, and Fox hosts the new ACA Awards, so logic points to the Peacock vying hardest for rights to the CMAs.
This year’s CMA Awards show is set for Nov. 9 on ABC.
One look at last year’s ratings show why the trophyfest is such a hot commodity. In 2010 it was the No. 1 entertainment program on television for the whole week of its broadcast, drawing an estimated 33.8 million viewers to become the second largest audience since 2005.
Lady A “Need You…” Climbs 5X Platinum
/by adminCapitol Nashville lead the Nashville labels with the equivalent of 3 million units of singles and albums certified this month. Close behind with 2 million units each were BNA, Broken Bow and Mercury.
Lady A and Shania were the only Nashville acts to earn multi-platinum awards, for “Need You Now,” and “You’re Still The One,” respectively.
The number of singles represented this month greatly outnumbers albums, as 19 different singles won awards and three albums were certified.
RIAA stats are based upon shipments from manufacturers to retailers and are not necessarily actual sales. For example, it is common to see a Gold song with under 500,000 scans on SoundScan.
July 2011 Certifications
Multi-Platinum Single
Lady Antebellum/Need You Now/Capitol Nashville/5X
Platinum Single
Jason Aldean/Dirt Road Anthem/This Is Hit (BBR)
Jason Aldean/My Kinda Party/Broken Bow
Kenny Chesney/Somewhere With You/BNA
Kenny Chesney/Summertime/BNA
Lady Antebellum/Just A Kiss/Capitol Nashville
Blake Shelton/Honey Bee/Warner Bros. Nashville
Gold Single
Gary Allan/Watching Airplanes/MCA Nashville
Eric Church/Homeboy/EMI Records Nashville
Easton Corbin/A Little More Country Than That/Mercury
Billy Currington/Let Me Down Easy/Mercury
Eli Young Band/Crazy Girl/Republic Nashville
Lady Antebellum/Just A Kiss/Capitol Nashville
Little Big Town/Little White Church/Capitol Nashville
Jake Owen/Eight Second Ride/RCA Nashville
Jake Owen/Barefoot Blue Jean Night/RCA Nashville
Blake Shelton/Honey Bee/Warner Bros. Nashville
George Strait/Troubadour/MCA Nashville
Sugarland/Settlin’/Mercury
The Band Perry/You Lie/Republic Nashville
Chris Young/Tomorrow/RCA Nashville
Platinum Album
Zac Brown Band/You Get what You Give/Homegrown/Atlantic
Rascal Flatts/Nothing Like This/Big Machine
Gold Albums
Rascal Flatts/Nothing Like This/Big Machine
Chris Young/The Man I Want To Be/Mercury
Multi-Platinum Single
Shania Twain/You’re Still The One/Mercury (2X; released 1/27/1998)
Lady A "Need You…" Climbs 5X Platinum
/by adminCapitol Nashville lead the Nashville labels with the equivalent of 3 million units of singles and albums certified this month. Close behind with 2 million units each were BNA, Broken Bow and Mercury.
Lady A and Shania were the only Nashville acts to earn multi-platinum awards, for “Need You Now,” and “You’re Still The One,” respectively.
The number of singles represented this month greatly outnumbers albums, as 19 different singles won awards and three albums were certified.
RIAA stats are based upon shipments from manufacturers to retailers and are not necessarily actual sales. For example, it is common to see a Gold song with under 500,000 scans on SoundScan.
July 2011 Certifications
Multi-Platinum Single
Lady Antebellum/Need You Now/Capitol Nashville/5X
Platinum Single
Jason Aldean/Dirt Road Anthem/This Is Hit (BBR)
Jason Aldean/My Kinda Party/Broken Bow
Kenny Chesney/Somewhere With You/BNA
Kenny Chesney/Summertime/BNA
Lady Antebellum/Just A Kiss/Capitol Nashville
Blake Shelton/Honey Bee/Warner Bros. Nashville
Gold Single
Gary Allan/Watching Airplanes/MCA Nashville
Eric Church/Homeboy/EMI Records Nashville
Easton Corbin/A Little More Country Than That/Mercury
Billy Currington/Let Me Down Easy/Mercury
Eli Young Band/Crazy Girl/Republic Nashville
Lady Antebellum/Just A Kiss/Capitol Nashville
Little Big Town/Little White Church/Capitol Nashville
Jake Owen/Eight Second Ride/RCA Nashville
Jake Owen/Barefoot Blue Jean Night/RCA Nashville
Blake Shelton/Honey Bee/Warner Bros. Nashville
George Strait/Troubadour/MCA Nashville
Sugarland/Settlin’/Mercury
The Band Perry/You Lie/Republic Nashville
Chris Young/Tomorrow/RCA Nashville
Platinum Album
Zac Brown Band/You Get what You Give/Homegrown/Atlantic
Rascal Flatts/Nothing Like This/Big Machine
Gold Albums
Rascal Flatts/Nothing Like This/Big Machine
Chris Young/The Man I Want To Be/Mercury
Multi-Platinum Single
Shania Twain/You’re Still The One/Mercury (2X; released 1/27/1998)
Signing News From Major Bob, Magic Mustang
/by Sarah SkatesCary Barlowe
Cary Barlowe Re-Ups With Major Bob
Major Bob Music has re-signed Cary Barlowe to an exclusive worldwide songwriting deal. The two-time Grammy nominee has had genre-crossing cuts from Tobymac, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum’s No. 1 “American Honey,” and Danny Gokey’s current single, “Second Hand Heart.”
Barlowe also continues his rock career as a writing member of both The Honeymoon Thrillers and Luna Halo.
“Major Bob Music is extremely excited to continue the momentum and success we have achieved with Cary,” says Jesse Frasure, Director of A&R, Major Bob Music. Going into his fifth year with Major Bob, we still have much more to accomplish and are honored to help build his brand in a variety of genres.”
Magic Mustang Inks Producer/Songwriters
Magic Mustang has signed Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy and Rich Redmond to publishing deals. The writers are three of the four members of Nashville-based music production company, NV, who recently produced the Stoney Creek Records’ chart-topping debut album for Thompson Square.
“Not only are they brilliant musicians and producers, they are incredible songwriters,” says Magic Mustang Creative Director Juli Griffith. “These talented guys were already part of our BBR/SCR family, producing many of our acts and part of Jason Aldean’s band, so I am thrilled to officially add them to the Magic Mustang roster.”
Current roster of writers on the Magic Mustang team include Jason Aldean, Sherrie Austin, Rob Hatch, John Edwards, Westin Davis, Ash Bowers, Blake Wise and Thompson Square.
Pictured (L-R): Kurt Allison, CEO/Pres. Benny Brown, BBR/SCR Creative Dir. Juli Griffith, Magic Mustang Music, and Tully Kennedy.
R&J Adds To Radio Team
/by Sarah SkatesChris DeCarlo
R&J Records has tapped Chris DeCarlo to head southeast promotion duties for its roster which includes Aaron Lewis, Andy Gibson, Margaret Durante, LoCash Cowboys, Rob Lane and Alexa Carter.
DeCarlo brings over 20 years of music business experience to the role. Her career began with Pittsburgh radio heavyweights WDVE and WDSY, then moved to promotion stints at A&M and RCA Records. Most recently, DeCarlo has run a voiceover and production house, DeCarlo-Mitchell Productions.
“We are so excited to have Chris on our team here at R&J,” says National Head of Promotion Tim McFadden. “We looked long and hard to find a professional with Chris’ credentials. I have known her since her very successful radio days and have watched her strong career in promotion. Chris is exactly who we needed to take charge in the Southeast.”
DeCarlo joins Bill Catino, Jon Conlon (West Coast), Bill Heltemes (Midwest), David Shaw (Northeast) and coordinator Kelsey Lantrip on the label’s promotion team. R&J Records was launched in June by acclaimed producer and label executive James Stroud.
DeCarlo can be reached at (412) 398-1212 or chris@randjrecords.com.
R&J Adds To Radio Team
/by Sarah SkatesChris DeCarlo
R&J Records has tapped Chris DeCarlo to head southeast promotion duties for its roster which includes Aaron Lewis, Andy Gibson, Margaret Durante, LoCash Cowboys, Rob Lane and Alexa Carter.
DeCarlo brings over 20 years of music business experience to the role. Her career began with Pittsburgh radio heavyweights WDVE and WDSY, then moved to promotion stints at A&M and RCA Records. Most recently, DeCarlo has run a voiceover and production house, DeCarlo-Mitchell Productions.
“We are so excited to have Chris on our team here at R&J,” says National Head of Promotion Tim McFadden. “We looked long and hard to find a professional with Chris’ credentials. I have known her since her very successful radio days and have watched her strong career in promotion. Chris is exactly who we needed to take charge in the Southeast.”
DeCarlo joins Bill Catino, Jon Conlon (West Coast), Bill Heltemes (Midwest), David Shaw (Northeast) and coordinator Kelsey Lantrip on the label’s promotion team. R&J Records was launched in June by acclaimed producer and label executive James Stroud.
DeCarlo can be reached at (412) 398-1212 or chris@randjrecords.com.
Strong Ratings For CMA Fest Special
/by Sarah SkatesZac Brown Band and special guest Alan Jackson perform during "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock." Photo: Donn Jones / CMA
Last night’s (8/14) CMA Music Festival television special drew an average audience of 7 million viewers, about one million more fans than last year’s broadcast. CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock aired 8:00-11:00 p.m. on ABC. It came in second place most of the night, and moved into first place during the final hour. Leading the night was CBS with Big Brother and Same Name.
This was the CMA Music Festival special’s second largest audience in six years.
TV ratings aren’t the only indicator of a successful broadcast…stay tuned for news from Soundscan.
TV Ratings courtesy of Nielsen.
Dierks Bentley Announces Fall Tour
/by FreemanFan club members can begin purchasing tickets tomorrow at www.dierks.com, and the general public sale begins Friday, August 19. Full dates will be announced soon.
“It’s been a killer summer playing festivals all over the country and partying with the most die-hard country music fans out there,” says Bentley. “We’re going to crank up the ‘Country & Cold Cans’ tour in the Fall and keep it going. I can’t imagine that I’ll have to convince Jerrod or EYB to have a cold beer or two…they are always up for the party.”
Bentley is currently finishing his sixth album for Capitol Nashville, and its first single “Am I The Only One” is scaling the charts.