Artists Not to be Overlooked for the 2025 Grammy Awards
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Since the Grammy Awards are one of the few awards that weigh artistic merit over commercial success, it makes it a bit more important to pay attention to for fans and advocates of independent artists.
Album Review – Miranda Lambert’s “Platinum”
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As sad as it is to turn on the radio and hear what country music has become, it is even more sad to zoom out in your mind to a broader perspective and understand that what we’re hearing in mainstream country now is what will define country music for a generation: laundry list songs perpetrated by pretty boy entertainers, pock marked by rap phrases and EDM elements.
Justin Townes Earle to Release ‘Single Mothers” Sept. 9th
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The wait by both Justin Townes Earle and his fans for new music is finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Announced earlier today, Earle will be releasing a new album in the fall on Vagrant Records. After the resolution of Earle’s five-album Bloodshot contract, he found himself in the midst of an intense battle with the British-based label Communion Records.
Aaron Lewis Stops Concert, Twists Off On “Molesters”
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We’ve seen these moments more and more at concerts, especially country music concerts where an artist has to stop everything down because someone in the crowd is acting completely inappropriate, but this instance may take the cake. Recent country music convert Aaron Lewis was manning the mic as part of his other gig as the frontman for the angry emo rock band Staind….
GARTH-FM Becomes 103.9 The Hawk
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As hypothesized when GARTH-FM first hit the air, the radio station has arguably become the first to adopt a new “classic” country format. “The country listener that became a fan in the 1990’s when country really exploded can’t find those songs on the radio in Louisville right now,” says Operations Manager Shane Collins. “It’s a whole segment of the audience that’s being underserved.
On The Deconstruction of Jack White
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In an era when nothing in music is universal, and music has become one of the primary battlefronts in the culture war, the likeability of Jack White was one of the few things that passed for a consensus builder. And then something changed. I’m not exactly sure where or when specifically, but it changed. At some point it seemed like Jack White has started to buy into his own image…
Before They Sucked: Big Country Stars at the Start
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When you look back at some of the early songs, early albums, and even the early image of some of country’s biggest current stars, it can stimulate downright culture shock. Of course styles change naturally over time, but many of these artists came from small towns and had simple dreams. But the problem with money and fame is that you can always have more of it….
John Fullbright Sets a High Bar with New “Songs” Album
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As the lives of most songwriters go, John Fullbright has lived a charmed one for sure. His debut studio release, 2012’s “From The Ground Up” found its way to the very highest reaches of industry accolades when it was nominated for Best Americana Album at the 55th Grammy Awards, and he seemed to be quickly anointed as a songwriting golden boy out of the gate.
Travis Tritt Calls Out Brantley Gilbert for “Disrespect”
119 CommentsOn Saturday night (5-31), Valory Music Group artist Brantley Gilbert headlined the Blue Ridge Music Festival in Salem, Virginia, with Thomas Rhett, ABC Nashville actress and singer Clare Bowen, and Travis Tritt opening for him. Apparently what transpired stimulated Travis Tritt to take to Twitter to question the level of respect he and his fellow openers were treated with.
Kris Kristofferson to Play Andrew Jackson in Miniseries
4 CommentsHe’s been an army helicopter pilot, a Highwayman, and Hollywood A-lister, and one of the most heralded songwriters in the history of country music. And now Kris Kristofferson will be playing a historic figure in an upcoming eight-hour miniseries on The History Channel. Kristofferson has been cast in the role of Andrew Jackson.
Dolly Parton’s Song “Home” Should Be on the Radio
19 Comments“Home” is certainly not a critical cut from Blue Smoke, but one that for the life of me I can’t find one reason to think it couldn’t live quite nicely on today’s country radio. The video is silly, but it’s also sincerely Dolly. There is a lot here that is very hard not to love. It may not be a country version of “Kokomo” that champions some historic chart re-entry, but Sony should pony up the promo funds…
Luke Bryan Falls Off Stage in Charlotte, North Carolina
26 CommentsThe hottest commodity in country music right now was performing at the PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, NC on Thursday night (5-29) when he took a step too many towards the edge of the stage and tumbled down a good five to six feet into the pit between crowd barrier and the stage. The fall resulted in an injury that Bryan elucidated to his fans resulted in “a few stitches” on his leg.
Garth Brooks Serves a Cease & Desist to “GARTH-FM”
21 CommentsOver the Memorial Day weekend, Lousiville, KY classic country station 103.9 turned heads when it decided to switch from it’s traditional country format to “Garth, The Whole Garth, and Nothing But The Garth,” playing the 90’s country superstar on 24 hour rotation. GARTH-FM drew the curiosity of many, and the ire of some, including Garth’s legal team.