About Matt Williams

Author Archive | Matt Williams

“Get Me To The GRAMMYS” Social Media Game Launches Dec. 17

By on December 17, 2012 in In The Press

Music Fans Have a Chance to Earn Prizes for Online Participation, and the Ultimate Prize of Two Tickets to the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 10, 2013

grammys“Get Me to the GRAMMYs,” – a unique social media game for music fans nationwide – will launch Dec. 17 and run through Jan. 29, 2013. Fans of the GRAMMY’s on Facebook will have the chance to win seven  weekly prizes from each of the GRAMMYs’ six participating partners — Delta Air Lines, Harman, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Hitlab, MasterCard, and Proctor & Gamble. Prizes range from music gift cards to the Ultimate GRAMMYs Superfan prize featuring two tickets to the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards®. The 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 Surround Sound on the CBS Television Network from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). For updates and breaking news, please visit www.grammy.com, and The Recording Academy’s social networks on Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/thegrammys, www.facebook.com/thegrammys.

Continue Reading →

Comments { 0 }

The Recording Academy Launches “Pin Your Way To The GRAMMYs”

By on December 13, 2012 in In The Press

The Recording Academy Teams with Curalate to Power Unique Contest on Pinterest

The GRAMMYsThe Recording Academy® and Curalate have teamed for “Pin Your Way To The GRAMMYs,” — a first-of-its-kind social media promotion offering Pinterest members the opportunity to share exclusive GRAMMY images. For the first time, The Academy is partnering with Curalate, the premier marketing platform for visual sites such as Pinterest, for this unique experience, which will launch Dec. 13 and run through Jan. 16, 2013.  Fans of the GRAMMYs on Facebook can click the “Pin Your Way to the GRAMMYs” tab to enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win two tickets to the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards, which will be held on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live in HDTV and 5.1 Surround Sound on the CBS Television Network from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). For updates and breaking news, please visit www.grammy.com, and The Recording Academy’s social networks on Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/thegrammys, www.facebook.com/thegrammys.

With more than 13 million social media comments made during last year’s telecast, the GRAMMYs achieved the honor of having the biggest social media event in the history of television at the time. Now, the GRAMMYs will make history again by being the first awards event to leverage Pinterest to connect with fans.

Continue Reading →

Comments { 0 }

Craig Campbell’s Exclusive
 “Outta My Head” EP Available Today At Walmart

By on December 11, 2012 in In The Press

Craig Campbell, Walmart, Outta My HeadAs a special holiday treat for fans, Craig Campbell is releasing an exclusive version of his brand new EP. The 6-song CD includes 2 brand new songs from his upcoming sophomore album in addition to 2 previously unreleased tracks and live recordings of his smash singles “Family Man” and “Fish.”  The Outta My Head physical EP is available for fans to purchase now exclusively at Walmart stores nationwide.

Outta My Head “Walmart Exclusive” EP – Official Track Listing
1. “Outta My Head” (Brandon Kinney, Michael Carter, Cole Swindell)
2. “Keep Them Kisses Comin’” (Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip)
3. “This Old Guitar” (Craig Campbell, Rob Hatch, Jason Sellers)
4. “You Can’t Drown Misery” (Craig Campbell, Jameson Clark, Rob Hatch)
5. “Family Man” -Live from Gstaad, Switzerland (Craig Campbell, Jon Henderson, Joel Shewmake)
6. “Fish” -Live from Gstaad, Switzerland (Craig Campbell, Arlos Smith, Ashe Underwood)

Continue Reading →

Comments { 0 }

The American Country Awards

By on December 11, 2012 in In The Press, Special Events

American Country AwardsLast night was the third annual American Country Awards (ACAs), broadcast live on FOX from the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The two-hour special featured performances by co-hosts Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth, Jake Owen, Kip Moore, Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Little Big Town and a surprise performance by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

With nine awards, including Artist of the Year, Luke Bryan received the most awards, followed by Miranda Lambert, who received three awards. Following her two wins this year, Carrie Underwood has earned 11 ACA awards, the most ACA honors of any artist. Lady Antebellum’s wins in Artist of the Year: Group and Single of the Year: Group, plus their five previous awards, make them the group with the most ACA honors ever.

Fans logged on to www.theacas.com to cast votes in support of their favorite country music artists not only in traditional categories, but also in a previously unrecognized area – touring – encompassing the entire spectrum of country music. Continue Reading →

Comments { 0 }

Taylor Swift Shatters Billboard Record With 9 Weeks at #1

By on December 10, 2012 in In The Press

Taylor Marks Her 23rd Birthday With MTV World Premier of Her 23rd Music Video

Taylor Swift, We Are Never Ever Getting Back TogetherThis week, 6-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift spends her 9th consecutive week at #1 on the Billboard Country Songs chart with her global #1 smash “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” the lead single from her Triple-Platinum album RED. This sets Billboard’s all-time record for most weeks at #1 on the country chart by a female artist. Previously, Country Music Hall of Famer Connie Smith spent eight weeks at the top with “Once A Day” in 1964. “Never Ever” was also a monumental pop hit, topping Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, iTunes charts around the globe, and selling more than 2.6 million downloads in the U.S.

In the six weeks since its first week debut with U.S. sales in excess of 1.2 million albums (music’s highest weekly sales number in more than a decade), RED (released on Big Machine Records) has dominated the album sales charts, spending every week at #1 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart, and remaining at #1 or #2 on the all-genre Top 200 Albums chart. In addition to its U.S. Triple-Platinum certification, RED has reached #1 at iTunes in 42 countries, and total sales of RED outside of the U.S. have now topped 1.1 million albums.

Singles from RED are impacting radio charts in several formats, with new single “I Knew You Were Trouble.”(currently at #2 all-genres on iTunes), making big jumps on the CHR/Top 40 (#23-#17) and Hot AC (#29-#21) charts, with Most Increased airplay at both. “Begin Again” is at #14 and climbing the Country airplay chart. This week’s international chart highlights from RED include 3 songs in the Top 30 in the U.K., #1 at A/C in Canada, a Top 10 in Australia, and the #1 international album in Japan.

Continue Reading →

Comments { 1 }

VEVO Taps Kacey Musgraves To Be The First Country Artist Ever As Part Of Their “Lift” Program

By on December 10, 2012 in In The Press

Musgraves Added To Little Big Town And Kenny Chesney Tours In 2013

Kacey MusgravesMercury Records’ singer/songwriter Kacey Musgraves has been tapped by VEVO to be their next “LIFT” artist starting today. This addition makes Kacey the first country artist selected by VEVO for LIFT, which supports emerging acts. Past LIFT artists include Jessie J, Dev, One Direction and Rita Ora.

Over the next eight weeks fans will have the opportunity to get to know Kacey through exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, video premieres and intimate live performances, all exclusive to the VEVO platform. Access Kacey Musgraves on VEVO at http://vevo.com/lift

Said VEVO’s Doug McVehil (SVP, Music Programming, Talent & Operations): “VEVO is THE home for premium music videos from every genre.  While we have focused primarily on pop, hip hop and rock artists for LIFT, we’ve always wanted to throw our support behind country artists.  Kacey is a remarkable young artist and was an obvious first choice.  We’re excited to work with our partners at Universal Nashville to provide her with a LIFT.”

Continue Reading →

Comments { 0 }

First Listen: Nikki Williams New Single, “Glowing”

By on December 9, 2012 in Artists to Watch

I know it’s been less than a month since the debut single Kill, F***, Marry from Nikki Williams, but she hasn’t slowed down a bit! Her upcoming single Glowing (slightly more radio friendly) is already available, and sure to be a pop smash. If KFM was a brilliant introduction to Nikki as a vocalist and edgy pop rock star, Glowing will solidify her on the top of the charts, and put her in the conversation with the biggest names out there.

Continue Reading →

Comments { 1 }

A Candle to You: Remembering Tony Lopacinski

By on December 7, 2012 in Special Events

Family, Friends and Fans Join For One More “Tailgate Tuesday” At Dan McGuinness

Tony LopacinskiAbout a year and a half ago the music community lost a great musician and wonderful man, Tony Lopacinski. On Tuesday, his friends and family gathered to celebrate his life and music in a very special performance at Dan McGuinness Irish Pub.

Tony was a multi-talented singer/songwriter/instrumentalist who penned hits such as “We Weren’t Crazy” by Josh Gracin, eventually becoming his bandleader. He also toured with Train as their guitarist, as well as playing with Shelly Fairchild, Julie Roberts and others. At the time of his passing, he was concentrating on his band Tailgate South. He passed away in June of 2011 after a 15-month battle with cancer.

Tuesday saw the patio at Dan McGuinness full, as Tony’s friends and former collaborators took the stage to sing his music. Among the artists were Nashville songwriting standouts Mike Willis and Devin Belle, and former Tailgate South partner Mickey Kelley.

Continue Reading →

Comments { 0 }

55th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees

By on December 6, 2012 in Special Events

GRAMMY Awards

 

1. Record Of The Year

Lonely Boy
The Black Keys
The Black Keys & Danger Mouse, producers; Tom Elmhirst & Kennie Takahashi, engineers/mixers; Brian Lucey, mastering engineer
Track from: El Camino
[Nonesuch]

Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)
Kelly Clarkson
Greg Kurstin, producer; Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, Greg Kurstin & Jesse Shatkin, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
[RCA Records/19 Recordings Limited]

We Are Young
Fun. Featuring Janelle Monáe
Jeff Bhasker, producer; Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dawson & Stuart White, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
Track from: Some Nights
[Fueled By Ramen]

Somebody That I Used To Know
Gotye Featuring Cambria
Wally De Backer, producer; Wally De Backer & Francois Tetaz, engineers/mixers; William Bowden, mastering engineer
Track from: Making Mirrors
[Universal Republic]

Thinkin Bout You
Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean, producer; Jeff Ellis, Pat Thrall & Marcos Tovar, engineers/mixers; Vlado Meller, mastering engineer
Track from: Channel Orange
[Def Jam]

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
Taylor Swift
Max Martin, Shellback & Taylor Swift, producers; Serban Ghenea, engineer/mixer; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer
[Big Machine Records]

2. Album Of The Year

El Camino
The Black Keys
The Black Keys & Danger Mouse, producers; Tchad Blake, Tom Elmhirst & Kennie Takahashi, engineers/mixers; Brian Lucey, mastering engineer
[Nonesuch]

Some Nights
Fun.
Janelle Monáe, featured artist; Jeff Bhasker, Emile Haynie, Jake One & TommyD, producers; Jeff Bhasker, Pete Bischoff, Jeff Chestek, Andrew Dawson, Emile Haynie, Manny Marroquin, Sonny Pinnar & Stuart White, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
[Fueled By Ramen]

Babel
Mumford & Sons
Markus Dravs, producer; Robin Baynton & Ruadhri Cushnan, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer
[Glassnote]

Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
André 3000, John Mayer & Earl Sweatshirt, featured artists; Om’Mas Keith, Malay, Frank Ocean & Pharrell, producers; Calvin Bailif, Andrew Coleman, Jeff Ellis, Doug Fenske, Om’Mas Keith, Malay, Frank Ocean, Philip Scott, Mark “Spike” Stent, Pat Thrall, Marcos Tovar & Vic Wainstein, engineers/mixers; Vlado Meller, mastering engineer
[Def Jam]

Blunderbuss
Jack White
Jack White, producer; Vance Powell & Jack White, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer
[Third Man/Columbia Records]

3. Song Of The Year

The A Team
Ed Sheeran, songwriter (Ed Sheeran)
Track from: +
[Elektra; Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing]
Adorn
Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)
[RCA/Bystorm Entertainment; Publisher: Art Dealer Chic]

Call Me Maybe
Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen & Josh Ramsay, songwriters (Carly Rae Jepsen)
[604 Records/Schoolboy Records/Interscope; Publishers: Jepsen Music Publishing, Regular Monkey Productions, Crowe Music Publishing]
Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)
Jörgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali Tamposi, songwriters (Kelly Clarkson)
[RCA/19 Recordings; Publishers: Universal Music Publishing MGB Scandinavia, Perfect Storm Music Group/Sony ATV Music Publishing Scandinavia, BMG Gold Songs, Kurstin Music/EMI April Music]

We Are Young
Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (Fun. Featuring Janelle Monáe)
Track from: Some Nights
[Fueled By Ramen; Publishers: WB Music, FBR Music, Bearvon Music/Rough Art/Shira Lee Lawrence Rick Music/Way Above Music/Sony ATV Songs]

4. Best New Artist

Alabama Shakes
Fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean

Continue Reading →

Comments { 0 }

Hunter Hayes Debuts New Video Today

By on December 5, 2012 in In The Press

Hunter Hayes‘ new video, “Somebody’s Heartbreak,” debuted today and can be viewed below. Don’t forget to tune-in tonight to catch him perform on The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! on CBS from 10-11pm ET/PT.

Comments { 0 }
Verified by MonsterInsights