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Sneak Peek of Ann Marie’s New Video “Cowboy Up”

Also Get a Behind the Scenes Look Inside the Studio

Watch a preview of the official video for Cowboy Up directed by Shaun Silva. You can also see a behind the scenes look at Ann Marie in the studio recording her Caged Bird EP.

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Craig Campbell Discusses His New Album and Writing A Sexy Song With His Wife

Craig Campbell, Never Regret

The only way to live life is to go all in. At least that’s Criag Campbell’s take, as he prepares to release his new album “Never Regret” on May 7th.

“Every decision that I’ve made that have gotten me here are decisions I’ll never regret,” says Craig about the title of the new album “I don’t look back, I just jump.”

This is Craig’s sophomore album, and he approached it a little differently than his first, which garnered such hits as “Family Man” and “Fish:”

“This album is a bit more sexy than the first album,” he says. “And I wanted to bring the energy up… just make it bigger.”

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Interview with Casey James | CRS 2013

We caught up with Casey James over a month ago during his show at Exit/In in Nashville where he promised a full length interview during Country Radio Seminar (CRS).

This is that full length interview!

Casey stops by to talk about his fans, his new single and upcoming tour with one Taylor Swift!

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Tin Pan South 2013

Tin Pan South

Five days. Ten Venues. Over 400 songwriters. NSAI’s Tin Pan South is the WORLD’s largest all-songwriter festival, and just wrapped up its 21st year. Over 9,000 fans attend the event annually to hear some of the greatest songs ever written, performed by the people that wrote them.

In the last couple years, NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International) has gotten a prominent figure in country music to perform the first night (mainly because he or she has to fly out to Vegas for ACM week shortly thereafter). This year The Listening Room Café featured Jake Owen at the early show, and Charles Kelly from Lady Antebellum for the late show. I missed Charles so I could go see “Celebrating ABC’s Nashville” at 3rd and Lindsley (more on that later).

The round with Jake Owen also featured Brandy Clark (“Somewhere With You,” “Alone With You”), Josh Osbourne (“Come Over,” Merry Go ‘Round”), and Eric Paslay (“Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” “Even If It Breaks Your Heart”) who was filling in for the sick Shane McAnally. You can see how rounds like this are so fun to watch. Songwriters are constantly collaborating, and this bunch seems to be pretty well connected. Not to mention… Jake Owen was there.

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Country’s Newest Carrie Zaruba Pins Her Legacy with Legends of Rock

Carrie Zaruba Carrie Zaruba

Country’s newest vocal vixen vagabond, Carrie Zaruba has been named one of the most recent inspirations for the iconic Hard Rock Cafe Nashville pin series. The “Save The Planet” pin blends Hard Rock’s eco-friendly initiative with Carrie’s spirited, artsy style.

On the decision to work with Carrie on the design and image, Hard Rock Cafe Nashville’s Manager of Sales and Marketing, Rachal Smith said, “When we were discussing the recent industry showcase Carrie did at the Hard Rock Cafe Nashville just a few weeks ago and saw her current photo shoot for her newly released EP Woman On A Mission, we knew her image would be a great fit for a modern mother-nature….A true beauty with an edgy style and a big voice!”

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Musicians Corner Spring 2013 Season

Musicians Corner

Musicians Corner, Nashville’s weekly lawn party, announces its fourth year of free music events in Centennial Park! Introducing the Musicians Corner Spring 2013 season:

Musicians Corner

The fourth season begins on Saturday, May 4 with free music and the 1st Annual Food Truck Fiesta featuring 25 of Nashville’s best food trucks.

The music will take place from 2 – 5 PM this year, preceded by Pre-Show Festivities from 12 – 2 PM including our Beer Garden Happy Hour, Food Trucks, Kidsville Activities, and Chef Michael’s Dog of the Day.

The Spring 2013 season features over 40 local and visiting artists, including Main Stage performances by:

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The Band Perry’s New Album PIONEER Available Today

Trio Brings History-Making Crowd to Hometown of Greeneville, TN with a Free Show

The Band Perry, Pioneer

Republic Nashville sibling trio The Band Perry gave a special performance in their hometown of Greeneville, TN, debuting new music from their sophomore album, PIONEER. An estimated crowd of 25,000 took to the streets of the small mountain town to see the famous residents and a chance meeting in the autograph line that stretched over a quarter of a mile down Main Street.  Their new CD, PIONEER, which releases today, has already hit #1 on the iTunes Country chart!

The history-making crowd boasted a large number of out of town visitors, in addition to members of Greeneville’s 17,000 residents, who made their way to see “their” band. With an invitation posted via social media earlier that week asking if fans were attending and from where, responses came in from all over the United States, including Florida, Iowa, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas, among others.  Fans even reported that they were making the trip from Canada!

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Luke Bryan on Hosting the ACM Awards…

Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, ACM Awards

Luke Bryan is now taking a break from sold-out crowds on his Dirt Road Diaries Tour to take time out to get ready for his co-hosting duties for this year’s ACM Awards. When he was first asked to host the show with buddy Blake Shelton, he was feeling a bit overwhelmed by the responsibility.

Somebody [asked] me…‘What do you think about hosting the show?’ Immediately, I was just kind of overwhelmed by it, and I said, ‘I just don’t know if I’m ready for something like that.’ I just felt like it was so, it was a little early in my career,” says Luke. “I think I had said, ‘I kinda just want to enjoy being at the show for a few years,’ because it’s still new to me being at the show and performing, and so I just wasn’t ready to leapfrog. About a month later they got back with me, and they said, ‘You may have misunderstood us, but it’s gonna be you and Blake together.’ And I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m in.’ That’s a no-brainer.”

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Kacey Musgraves Debuts Atop Country Albums Chart

Kacey Musgraves

Mercury Nashville singer/songwriter Kacey Musgraves released her debut album Same Trailer Different Park on March 19 and this week it sits at the No. 1 position on the Billboard Country Chart and No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart with 43,496 units sold. Same Trailer Different Park was co-written by Kacey and co-produced with Shane McAnally and Luke Laird.

On April 7 CBS SUNDAY MORNING will air a profile on the 24-year old singer/songwriter filmed in Texas and Nashville. Later that day Kacey will attend the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards held in Las Vegas on April 7 where she holds THREE nominations; nominations include FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR and VIDEO OF THE YEAR (Artist & Producer). She had previously received a nomination for New Female Vocalist.

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Interview With LoCash Cowboys And Their New Single | CRS 2013

During Our Interview, The FOCUS Crew Bet On Which Song It Would Be… The Results Are In!

LoCash Cowboys

We caught up with the LoCash Cowboys at CRS a few weeks ago. The rockin’ country duo dropped by to discuss their new deal… but more importantly, we discuss Ray Lewis for president, partying with playmate Kendra, and we even bet on what song would be their new single!

During the interview, LoCash previewed two of their songs for Patrice and I, one of which was to be released to radio. The first was called “Love Drunk,” the second was called “Chase A Little Love.” Patrice and I disagreed on which we thought it should be. I voted the former; Patrice, the latter. So we have been waiting with bated breath to hear the result. And the verdict is…

I lost.

Chase A Little Love” will be LoCash Cowboy’s next single. (Read the press release below).

Here is the interview with the boys. The song debate begins around 5:40:

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