On The Petition for George Strait to Play the Super Bowl
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Country music is constantly slotted as second-class when it comes to the greater American culture, even when it’s more popular than ever like it is now, and more popular than any other genre.
Matt Woods Goes Beyond ‘Deadman’s Blues’ w/ New Album
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“Deadman’s Blues” went on to be named Saving Country Music’s Song of the Year in 2013, and received similar praise from other attentive periodicals. Matt Woods did what every songwriter yearns to do whenever they put pen to paper: make a deep, emotional connection with the rest of the world. But “Deadman’s Blues” was just one song. Would he, could he match it in a full album?
Where Does Sturgill Simpson Go From Here?
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Sturgill Simpson has arrived ladies & gentlemen, thanks to the resounding critical success of his new album Metamodern Sounds of Country Music that has permeated just about every corner of the independent roots music culture. From NPR, to The New York Times, to important periodicals in Europe, wherever you turn, someone is singing the praises of the Kentucky native.
Collin Raye Asks “Is Country Music Dead” in New Editorial
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In mid April, country music artist Collin Raye who was known for his contemporary style that found great success in the 90’s, had some very critical remarks about the direction of country music. Now in a new editorial on FoxNews.com, Collin Raye has once again directly criticized what he calls the “gatekeepers” of country in a piece he titles, “Is Country Music Dead?”
Mattie Breaux of CMT’s “Party Down South” Wanted By Police
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More legal troubles and location battles for the cast and producers of CMT’s new reality show Party Down South. The latest fugitive from the show is 24-year-old Mattie Breaux of Louisiana, who is wanted by police for a bench warrant after she failed to appear in court as part of a pretrial hearing in March. Also in March, the show got kicked out of Pensacola, FL.
Almost Every Major Country Artist Now Has Same Talent Agency
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Just think about this for a second: Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Brady Paisley, Miranda Lambert, and Rascal Flatts are all now managed by the same exact talent agency. That is pretty much every single top tier country artist at the moment aside from Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. And that’s just the start.
Hayes Carll Signs with Thirty Tigers / New Album Coming
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Distribution and publishing company Thirty Tigers has signed critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter Hayes Carll to work on a new album this fall, with hopes for an early 2015 release. Carll is now considered one of the mainstays of country/Americana touring channels, playing an average of 200 shows a year.
Cumulus & Big Machine Partner for “Classic” Nash Icons Venture
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Announced late Tuesday, NASH Icons, a takeoff on Cumulus’ already-established nationally-syndicated NASH brand, is a partnership with the Big Machine Label Group for the purpose of taking old and new music from artists “of the past 25 years” and giving its own place to live. Though no specific artists to be featured have been detailed yet, the idea seems to encompass music….
Leroy Virgil of Hellbound Glory Talks “LV” EP & More
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Reno’s Hellbound Glory has just released a new 5-song EP called LV, named for the initials of lead singer and songwriter Leroy Virgil. The album was recorded in and partially inspired by Leroy’s hometown of Aberdeen, Washington, and marks the first new music from Leroy and Hellbound Glory in nearly three years. On the occasion of the new release I gave Leroy a call…
Scott Borchetta Adds “Mega Pop Muscle” with New Big Machine Hire
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Announced yesterday, Republic Records Senior Vice President for Promotion and Artist Development David Nathan is transitioning from a position at one of Big Machine’s partnered subsidiaries to Big Machine proper to serves as the label groups Senior Vice President for “Pop Promotions.” The move is effective immediately. The move once again reinforces Big Machine’s focus on the pop world.
Sturgill Simpson’s “Metamodern Sounds in Country Music”
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I hate writing reviews like this. So I’m supposed to sit here and peck out a bunch of words to convince you to buy this damn thing? … an album many people are calling a “masterpiece” and the “best album in years”? The only person’s opinion about Metamodern Sounds in Country Music that truly matters is Sturgill Simpson’s papaw. And by all accounts, he’s beaming about it.
Jett Williams Arrested for Second DUI Charge In 3 Months
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For the second time in three months, one of country music’s most famous daughters has been arrested for DUI in Wilson County, TN, east of Nashville. She was stopped Friday May 9th at 11 PM, and was arrested for both DUI and for Violation of Implied Consent, meaning she refused to submit to a sobriety test. She was released Saturday morning on a $1,500 bond.
2014 Americana Music Awards Nominees Announced
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On Monday April 12th, The Americana Music Association announced the nominees for their 2014 Americana Music Awards to be held September 17th at the Ryman Auditorium as part of their annual Americana Music Conference. The ceremony was emceed by performer and Sirius XM DJ Elizabeth Cook, and was simulcast on Sirius XM and streamed on Music City Roots.