Get to know the dynamic rising country artist Rachel Farley a little better in this video interview below! At only 18 years old, she’s already toured with artists like Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford. Continue Reading →
Archive | November, 2013
A Closer Look @ Rachel Farley
Debut Of Country Now And “Live From Blackbird” YouTube Series
Parmalee
Country Now, the first original country music and lifestyle-dedicated YouTube channel, today announced the official launch of a new, intimate, performance driven program that will be recorded live from Nashville’s historic Blackbird Studios. The performances, combined with artist commentary, are posted weekly at http://bit.ly/1gLeAp3 and have already featured music from Casey James, newcomer Dakota Bradley, Joe Nichols, Love and Theft and Parmalee. Continue Reading →
Vince Gill To Be Honored with CRB Career Achievement Award
Photo Credit: Jim Wright
Vince Gill will be honored with the 2014 Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. Career Achievement Award at the Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m.
Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell will perform a tribute to Gill as well as presenting him with the prestigious award during the event.
The CRB Career Achievement Award is presented to an individual artist or act that, through their creativity, vision, performance or leadership has made a significant contribution to the development and promotion of country music and country radio. Previous winners of this award include Dolly Parton, Brooks & Dunn, Merle Haggard and George Strait.
“Vince Gill is unquestionably one of the greatest artists in the country genre,” said Bill Mayne, Executive Director of CRS. “His body of amazing work continues to evolve, and his performances inspire us all. He is a remarkable ambassador for Country music with his talents, grace, class, leadership, humility, humanity, style and wicked sense of humor. We are very proud to present Vince with this richly deserved honor.”
With more than 17 studio albums recorded and more than 26 million copies sold, Gill has had an incredible career as a singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. He has won 20 Grammys and 18 CMA Awards, including CMA Entertainer of the Year, Song of the Year and CMA Male Vocalist of the Year. He has already been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The Country Radio Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony unofficially kicks off Country Radio Seminar each year. CRS 2014 will be held at the downtown Nashville Convention Center February 19-21, 2014.
For information about the Country Radio Hall of Fame Dinner and Ceremony tickets, contact the Country Radio Seminar offices at 615-327-4487.
Previously announced, the 2014 Country Radio Hall of Fame inductees are Larry Wilson and Mike Brophey as the Radio category inductees and Paul Schadt and Jim Denny as the On-Air category inductees.
About Country Radio Hall of Fame:
The Country Radio Hall of Fame was founded in 1974 to recognize outstanding indiviuals working in the broadcasting industry who are promoting the Country radio format. The Hall of Fame has two categories: Radio and On-Air Personality. The awards ceremony is held the evening prior to the Country Radio Seminar and has become recognized as the unofficial kick off of the annual radio convention.
About Country Radio Seminar:
Country Radio Seminar is an annual convention designed to educate and promote the exchange of ideas and business practices in the Country music industry, with specific emphasis on issues relevant to Country radio. CRS 2014 will be held Feb. 19-21, 2014, in downtown Nashville, Tenn., at the Nashville Convention Center. The regular rate of $499 is now in effect. The on site registration rate will be announced closer to the event. Visit www.CountryRadioSeminar.com for more information.
Sony Music Nashville Signs The Swon Brothers To The Arista Nashville Roster
The Swon Brothers have signed a recording contract with Sony Music Nashville, becoming the newest act on the label group’s Arista Nashville roster. Pictured seated (l-r): Zach Swon, Colton Swon. Pictured standing (l-r): Sony Music Nashville’s A&R VP Jim Catino, A&R Director Taylor Lindsey, and Chairman & CEO Gary Overton; Arista Nashville Promotion VP Lesly Tyson; and Hill Entertainment Group’s Greg Hill.
Photo Credit: Alan Poizner
Sony Music Nashville is pleased to announce the signing of The Voice Season 4 finalists The Swon Brothers to its Arista Nashville roster. Zach and Colton Swon – the brother duo from Oklahoma whose signature sibling harmony and spirited personalities solidified them as a fan favorite as part of The Voice’s Team Blake – are currently writing and securing songs for their major label debut album, with a first single due in the spring of 2014. Continue Reading →
VIDEO | SUNNYband Fashion Bash
FOCUS on the 615 recently had the pleasure of attending the SUNNYband Fashion Bash held at PLAY in Nashville. Check out the video for interviews from Sunny Fitz and Tiffany, along with highlights from the fashion show! Continue Reading →
Blake Shelton Wins 2 CMA Awards; Country Icon George Strait Reclaims Entertainer Of The Year Award During “The 47th Annual CMA Awards”
At “The 47th Annual CMA Awards,” Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton made history as the first married couple to win top honors as CMA’s Female and Male Vocalists of the Year four years in a row; with George Strait securing victory in the coveted Entertainer of the Year category, which he last won in 1990. Continue Reading →
CONTEST | Want To Win A Copy Of DUCK THE HALLS: A ROBERTSON FAMILY CHRISTMAS?
We’ve got 3 copies of the DUCK THE HALLS: A ROBERTSON FAMILY CHRISTMAS cd that was just released to give away to some of our lucky readers thanks to Universal Music Group! Continue Reading →
Dierks Bentley’s Miles and Music for Kids Rocks Riverfront Park, Sets New Record
Dierks Bentley has done it again. Sunday marked the eighth annual Miles and Music for Kids charity motorcycle ride and concert in Nashville, where Dierks led over 1,000 riders on a 40-mile ride from Columbia, TN to Riverfront Park.
The show itself featured performances by Jake Owen, Brett Eldredge, Chase Rice, Easton Corbin, Luke Bryan, Dierks and more. When you have a lineup like that, you’re going to make some money for the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. And make money they did: Over $307,000; a new record for the event.
The festival stayed true to its down-home roots, despite an estimated 10,000 people in attendance. The setup was fairly minimal (at least in comparison to the shows these guys typically put on) and the performances stayed very fun and casual.
Owen played four songs acoustically, including his smash Barefoot Blue Jean Night as well as a Hank Jr. cover. Bentley’s band was set up on stage to join Brett Eldredge and Easton Corbin, as they had the crowd singing along to their hits Don’t Ya and A Little More Country Than That respectively.
Then, all host Storme Warren had to say was, “Luke Bryan,” and the place went berserk. Bryan also played acoustically, and in true Luke Bryan fashion, was cracking jokes, sometimes in the middle of the song. He also took the time to tell the story of how he almost cut off his thumb cooking ribs on Halloween:
“It’s fun doing this with stitches,” he joked. “You always want to cut your thumb off on CMA week.”
Bryan and his guitar sounded just fine, but he ain’t got nothing on Jake Owen’s performance at BMI several weeks ago…
Finally, Dierks took the stage, although the crowd had been catching glimpses of him periodically through the night running around back stage with his daughter. The ever-grateful Bentley wasted very little time talking, only thanking everyone involved and the audience for coming. He gave everyone what they came to see, performing hits such as Am I the Only One, 5-1-5-0, Every Mile a Memory and Home.
Dierks also played a new song about partying “on the back porch” that was still a work in progress. Before he went into the bridge, he asked the audience to give him feedback on what they thought. Not surprisingly, it was met with massive applause, and even a beer tossed at Dierks from the VIP section.
In the middle of the set, Warren re-entered to present the check of $307,296 made out to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, and signed by Dierks himself.
Effervescent Country Artist Hannah Bethel Prescribes A Healthy Dose Of Medicine For Country Radio
Edgy and vibrant songstress, Hannah Bethel has been making waves in the music industry with her last release, No Where Left To Roam. This eccentric country singer is back again with an upbeat and bubbly single, Medicine, which hit radio on Tuesday October 29th. This single is on CDX #582. Continue Reading →
CONTEST | Want To Win A Pair Of Tickets To See The CMA Songwriters Series Show On Tuesday, November 5th?
Want to win a pair of tickets to see the CMA Songwriters Series show happening this Tuesday at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville? Hosted by Brett James and featuring CMA Awards Nominees Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, and Love and Theft. All you have to do is subscribe to FOCUS on the 615 (right on the upper right hand corner of the front page of the site with your email) and you’ll be entered to win. Better hurry! The winner will be drawn on Sunday, Nov. 3rd @ 12 pm CST. Continue Reading →
