Archive | June 13, 2014

MIRANDA LAMBERT’S PLATINUM DEBUTS AT #1 ON THE BILLBOARD 200

When Miranda Lambert went into the studio to record her new album,Platinum, she says she “went in without a plan, in order to keep the creative process fresh.” That fresh creative process pays off asPlatinum finds Miranda atop the all-genre Billboard 200 with the #1 album in the nation. In addition, she becomes the only country artist in the 50-year history of Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart to have each of her first five albums debut at #1. With 180,000 albums sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan,Platinum marks a 35% increase in sales over her previous album release. All four of her prior albums have been certified platinum.

 

In response to the news, Miranda said, “THANK YOU to the music lovers who believe in albums and spent your hard-earned money on 16 songs! 16 songs that all say something important to me. I hope that they also speak to you, and I hope you enjoy listening to Platinum. Thank you to the incredible musicians, songwriters, producers and artists that put this record together. I’m the luckiest girl in the world, blessed with the best fans!”

 

Fans aren’t the only ones celebrating Miranda’s new album.  Among Platinum’sshining reviews:

 

“With these songs, Lambert reinforces the principles underlying both Platinum and the rest of her career: feminine strength, force of personality, and command of the situation. Further commercial dominance is sure to follow.”
– Time Magazine

 

Lambert “earned her throne” by “singing top-shelf songs in the voice of a woman getting real. Listening to her records is like eavesdropping in a hair salon.”
– Rolling Stone (4-star review)

 

Platinum is “an old-school country wisecracker that’s one of her all-time best.”
– Entertainment Weekly (grade of “A”)

 

“Her characters in these songs — which feature some of the most incisive songwriting in any genre — are complex, self-confident and self-lacerating all at once, and most crucially, completely knowing and in on the joke.”
– The New York Times

 

“Yes, Lambert continues to grow. But at her core, she continues to celebrate the colorful drama of working-class lives…. The way she reflects modern women, complete with risqué word play and edgy humor, is what makes Lambert a fully three-dimensional country star.
– AP

 

Platinum’s debut single, “Automatic,” written by Miranda with Nicolle Galyon and Natalie Hemby, hit # 1 this week and has been certified gold. The song marks Miranda’s 7th#1 single. “Thanks to Country Radio for being so good to me over the years and helping me get to #1 this past week with ‘Automatic,’” said Miranda. “This song is dear to my heart as it reminds me who I am and where I come from. It was written with two amazingly talented girlfriends who deserve all the great things that come their way,” she continued.

 

Platinum is available here:http://smarturl.it/mlplatinum.

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Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum Announces Alan Jackson Exhibit And Artist Residency

In a press conference last week at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, plans were disclosed for a celebration of country music superstar Alan Jackson’s 25th year in the music industry.   Museum Director Kyle Young revealed arrangements for an upcoming exhibit highlighting Jackson’s career and named him the museum’s 2014 Artist-in-Residence. This marks the first time a museum residency has coincided with a major exhibit on an artist’s career. In addition, UMG Nashville CEO Mike Dungan promised new music from Jackson, and Creative Artist Agency’s John Huie announced an upcoming 25-city tour.

Alan Jackson Announces Year-Long Celebration Of 25th Anniversary In The Music Business

Pictured are (l-r): Gerry House, Universal Music Nashville’s Mike Dungan, CAA’s John Huie, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Kyle Young. Photo by Rick Diamond.

The exhibit, an expertly curated deep-dive into Jackson’s career, opens August 29, 2014. It will interweave the professional and the personal, including awards, instruments, costumes and mementos—many that fans will recognize from his concerts and music videos. A water ski from the “Chattahoochee” music video, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle from the cover of the seminal album A Lot About Livin’ (And a Little ‘bout Love) and never-before-seen treasures from Jackson’s private “man cave” will be on display.

On October 8 and 22, Jackson will take the stage of the museum’s CMA Theater to present a pair of unique, intimate performances. Previous artists-in-residence include Guy Clark, Vince Gill, Tom T. Hall, Kris Kristofferson and others. Details about Jackson’s residency shows will be revealed soon.

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Flirty, Fit And Flare At CMT Awards

E! OnlineMary SarahMary Sarah, the artist “the country music world has fallen for” (American Songwriter), trended alongside Miranda Lambert and LeAnn Rimes in “E! Online” CMT Awards red carpet coverage.

The 18-year-old turned heads in a “very flirty fit and flare style” white dress accented by a pair of sassy violet platform heels.

Mary Sarah debuts ‘Bridges’ – a 12-song collection of duets with Country music legends including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and the late Ray Price – on July 8.

Listen to her sing “Fightin’ Side of Me” with Merle Haggard here.

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Moonpie Enlists Craig Morgan To Help Send A Free Moonpie To Our Troops Serving Overseas

Craig Morgan FOCUS on the 615MOONPIE, one of America’s best-loved brands, has enlisted CRAIG MORGAN, to help send free MoonPies to our U.S. troops! As announced from the CMA Close Up Stage at CMA Music Festival in Nashville, TN, starting this month, the country music star and former soldier will be featured on over 250k 8-count Chocolate Double-Decker MoonPie boxes on grocery shelves across the nation. The cartons will depict Morgan’s likeness, recap his long-standing commitment to our troops, and list a website where fans of the tasty treat can send a free “thank you” MoonPie to our American heroes serving abroad. Up to fifty thousand free MoonPie marshmallow sandwiches will be sent to our soldiers over the coming months. Morgan kicked off the campaign by giving free MoonPies to soldiers and their families who came out for his CMA Artist of the Day program at CMA Music Festival. Continue Reading →

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“Wholly Unique Texas grit” (Country Weekly): Whiskey Myers Add Dates With Lynyrd Skynyrd And 7Horse

Whiskey Myers FOCUSonthe615After playing a sold-out show at the legendary Gruene Hall earlier this month – drawing 1,100 past-capacity – Whiskey Myers have confirmed additional dates, including a show with Lynyrd Skynyrd at Sam Houston Race Park and several dates with 7Horse as the opener in September, supporting their Dave Cobb-produced album ‘Early Morning Shakes.’ The band has toured extensively since the album was released earlier this year, debuting at #1 on Billboard’s Digital Country Albums chart and in the Top 10 on their Top Country Albums chart – their highest charting record to date. Continue Reading →

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People Country Gives Fans Exclusive Peek Behind-The-Scenes Of Dustin Lynch’s New Video For “Where It’s At”

Dustin Lynch FOCUSonthe615This week People Country unveiled a sneak peek behind-the-scenes of Dustin Lynch’s new video for “Where It’s At,” the hit song which has become the star’s fastest-rising single to-date.  Continue Reading →

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The Band Perry Blaze Through Nashville

The Band Perry FOCUSonthe615SUPERSTAR SIBLING TRIO BRINGS HOME THIRD CMT AWARD
HOST OVER 500 FANS AT EXCLUSIVE FAN CLUB PARTY

ACM Vocal Group Of The Year, THE BAND PERRY, set Nashville ablaze this past week during the annual CMA Music Fest.  Kicking things off Wednesday night, the band added another award to their collection by winning the 2014 CMT Award – their third overall – in the fan-voted Group Video of the Year category for their cutting edge video for the hit single DONE.  The trio was a staple throughout the show, participating in a skit with show host Kristin Bell as she “stole” their award, and later introducing a performance by their upcoming tour mate Blake Shelton. Continue Reading →

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[Video] Eric Paslay Releases New Video For “Song About A Girl”

Eric-Paslay FOCUSonthe615EMI Records Nashville’s singer/songwriter Eric Paslay just released the music video for his current single, “Song About A Girl.” The video was shot in Nashville, TN and directed by Wes Edwards. Continue Reading →

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Country Star Colt Ford Invites Fans To Remix New Song, “Crank It Up,” Before New Album Is Released July 1, 2014

Colt FordColt Ford has partnered with music technology company, Indiloop, to launch the “Crank It Up” Remix Contest. Indiloop is a cloud-based remix software described as “the Instagram for music creation.” Fans can enter the contest and submit their remix through July 7, 2014. To enter, visit http://www.indiloop.com/crankitup. Prizes include two VIP tickets to one of Ford’s 2014 concerts and an iPad Mini loaded with the Indiloop app and Colt Ford’s music. Continue Reading →

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