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NEWS

August 29, 2019

SMN Artists Receive 13 CMA Awards Nominations!

Congratulations to our Sony Music Nashville nominees at The 53rd Annual CMA Awards! Sony Music Nashville artists received 13 nominations while Maren Morris leads all country artists this year with six noms! Check out the categories below and watch the 2019 CMA Awards LIVE from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 8/7c on ABC.  

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s), and Mix Engineer 

  • “GIRL” – Maren Morris  
    Producer: Greg Kurstin 
    Mix Engineer: Greg Kurstin 

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist and Producers
 

  • GIRL – Maren Morris    
    Producers: busbee, Maren Morris, Greg Kurstin 

SONG OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Songwriters 

  • “Beautiful Crazy”  
    Songwriters: Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Robert Williford 
  • “GIRL”  
    Songwriters: Maren Morris, Sarah Aarons, Greg Kurstin 

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

  • Miranda Lambert 
  • Maren Morris 

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

  • Luke Combs 

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

  • Old Dominion  

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

  • Brooks & Dunn 

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artists and Producer(s) 

  • “All My Favorite People” – Maren Morris (feat. Brothers Osborne) 
    Producers: Maren Morris, busbee 
  • “Brand New Man” – Brooks & Dunn (with Luke Combs) 
    Producer: Dann Huff 

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Award goes to Artist(s) and Director 

  • “GIRL” – Maren Morris 
    Director: Dave Meyers 

NEWS

August 29, 2019

MIRANDA LAMBERT DEBUTS BRAND NEW “IT ALL COMES OUT IN THE WASH” MUSIC VIDEO

Miranda Lambert is getting down and dirty in her new music video for “It All Comes Out in the Wash.” The video premiered today with a fan Q&A session on Lambert’s YouTube channel. Watchhere.

Directed by frequent collaborator Trey Fanjoy, the mud-slinging clip was filmed outside Nashville and features Lambert behind the wheel in an off-roading adventure, and a subsequent trip to the car wash to clean up. 

“It All Comes Out in the Wash” is the Top 25 lead single from the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year nominee’s eagerly awaited new album Wildcard, releasing Nov. 1 via Vanner Records/RCA Nashville. Lambert co-wrote the “delightful, sprightly rocker” (Rolling Stone) with The Love Junkies (Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose). 

Wildcard also features recently-released “foot-stompin’ barnburner” (NPR) “Locomotive,” “crunchy, frisky jam” (Stereogum) “Mess with My Head,” “irresistibly catchy” (SPIN) “Bluebird,” and “instant honky tonk jukebox classic” (Billboard) “Way Too Pretty for Prison,” which features Maren Morris. Listeners can pre-order and pre-add the album to their collections now.

To welcome this new artistic chapter, Lambert will hit the road for the Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars Tour this fall, with special guests Morris and Elle King, as well as Pistol Annies, Tenille Townes, Ashley McBryde and Caylee Hammack on various dates (details here). Tickets are on sale now. 

NEWS

August 28, 2019

LUKE COMBS NOMINATED FOR THREE CMA AWARDS

Reigning CMA New Artist of the Year Luke Combs is nominated for three awards at the 2019 CMA Awards: Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year (“Beautiful Crazy”) and Musical Event of the Year (“Brand New Man” with Brooks & Dunn). The awards ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 13 at 8:00PM ET/7:00PM CT.

The nominations celebrate a monumental year for Combs, who will release his highly anticipated new full-length album November 8 on River House Artists/Columbia Nashville. Additional details to be announced soon.

The new album is the follow up to the ACM, CMA, CMT and Billboard Music Award-winning artist’s breakthrough double Platinum debut, This One’s For You, which is currently No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart for the 46th non-consecutive week—the longest reign ever for a male artist and second longest for an artist overall following Shania Twain’s Come On Over in 1997 (50 weeks). This One’s For You is also the most-streamed country album of 2019 so far.

Additionally, in June of this year, Combs released The Prequel EP, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and whose five tracks all charted on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Top 25—a feat not accomplished by any artist in 60 years since Johnny Cash in 1959. The EP’s release propelled Combs to the largest streaming week ever for a country artist with 73 million on-demand streams (week ending June 13).

Moreover, The Prequel’s lead single, “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” recently reached No. 1 on bothBillboard’s Country Airplay and Mediabase/Country Aircheck charts. This is Combs’ sixth consecutive No. 1—a first on the Billboard Country Airplay chart—and his fastest rising single to date (13 weeks).

Combs will continue his massive, sold-out “Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour” this fall including newly confirmed stops at San Diego’s Pechanga Arena, Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center, San Antonio’s AT&T Center, Louisville’s KFC Yum! Center, Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre (two nights) and Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena (two nights). See below for complete tour details. 

NEWS

August 28, 2019

MAREN MORRIS IS THE MOST NOMINATED ARTIST FOR 2019 CMA AWARDS WITH SIX NOMINATIONS

Superstar Maren Morris leads this year’s list of Country Music Association Awards nominees with six nominations. This is Morris’ second time leading the CMA nominee list in four years, and the strongest showing by a female nominee since Miranda Lambert garnered nine nominations in 2014. Morris is in the running for Album Of The Year, Female Vocalist Of The Year, Single Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Music Video Of The Year, and Musical Event Of The Year. 

The 29 year-old singer-songwriter from Arlington, Texas recently debuted an Alex Ferrari-directed music video for “The Bones,” which features footage of Maren vacationing with her husband, singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd. Watch/share HERE. The single was most-added at Country radio this week. 

“The Bones” is taken from Morris’ sophomore album GIRL, which shattered the record for the largest-ever debut streaming week for a country album by a woman with 23.96 million streams in its first week. The album debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and continues to receive rave reviews.

The record’s title track, “GIRL,” recently hit No. 1 on country radio, making it the first solo song by a woman to top the Billboard Country Airplay Chart since February 2018 and Morris’ third overall time at No. 1. Upon its release earlier this year, “GIRL” had the highest debut on Billboard’s Country Streaming Songs chart by a female artist and the highest weekly streams by a female country artist ever. 

Morris kicks off the next leg of her GIRL: The World Tour later this month with performances at Radio City Music Hall in New York City and the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. She will also support Miranda Lambert on her Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars tour this fall. Visit marenmorris.com for full tour details.

This year Morris received five Grammy nominations and was awarded with a Billboard Music Award for Dance/Electronic Song alongside Zedd and Grey. 

Morris won a Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance at the 2017 Grammy Awards, was named New Artist of the Year at the 50th Annual CMA Awards, Top Country Female Artist at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards and New Female Vocalist of the Year at the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards. She was also the most played female artist on country radio in 2017 and 2018.

Morris got her start playing in bars around her hometown and quickly made a name for herself with her Gold certified debut album Hero and its Platinum-selling “My Church,” Gold-selling “80s Mercedes” and “I Could Use A Love Song.” Hero and its singles topped charts nationwide, set Country radio records, and were some of the most critically acclaimed works of 2016.

NEWS

August 28, 2019

ICYMI: Matt Stell Performs “Prayed For You” at Wedding of ABC’s Summer Reality Series “Bachelor In Paradise” Alums Krystal Neilson and Chris Randone

RECORDS/Arista Nashville recording artist Matt Stell made his national TV debut last night, performing his Top 15 and rising single “Prayed For You” during a special episode of ABC’s summer reality series, Bachelor in ParadiseListen to “Prayed For You” and Stell’s new EP Everywhere But OnHERE

Filmed in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Stell’s romantic performance takes place as Bachelor in Paradise alums Krystal Neilson and Chris Randone say “I DO!” in front of Bachelor in Paradise hopefuls and other friends of the franchise. Fans can watch Stell’s performance of “Prayed For You” HERE.

From the creator of The Bachelor franchise, summer series Bachelor in Paradise, now in its sixth season, features some of The Bachelor’s biggest stars and most talked-about villains. They all left The Bachelor or The Bachelorette with broken hearts, but now they know what it really takes to find love, and on Bachelor in Paradisethey’ll get a second (or third) chance to find their soul mates. Living together in a dreamy oasis in Mexico, these former bachelors and bachelorettes will explore new relationships, fall in love or go through renewed heartbreak. 

The romantic dating series will feature twists, shocking surprises, unexpected guests and some of the most unlikely relationships in Bachelor history, plus all the usual romance, drama and tears of the Bachelor franchise. Watch the romantic television event of the summer, airing Mondays and Tuesdays (8:00–10:01 PM/ET) on ABC.

ABOUT MATT STELL
After playing college basketball for Drury University for four years, breakthrough country artist Matt Stell stood at a crossroads. One road led to Cambridge, MA where Stell was accepted into Harvard University’s Extension School Pre-Med program. The other road pointed toward Nashville and a career in country music. Stell made the choice to follow his dreams of writing and performing. The 6’7” Center Ridge, Arkansas native and self-taught vocalist and guitar-player made the move to Music City in 2014, landing a publishing and management deal with Wide Open Music and a record deal with music industry powerhouse Barry Weiss’s RECORDS/Arista Nashville. His debut single, “Prayed For You ,” written by Stell along with Ash Bowers and Alison Veltz, has already amassed over 71 million digital streams, making waves on Billboard’s Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs Charts and spinning on SiriusXM’s The Highway in addition to having been featured on Spotify’s Hot Country, New Boots, Wild Country, and Country Kind Of Love Playlists, Amazon’s “The Weekly One,” and Apple’s A-List Country Playlist. The CMT Discovery Artist and Taste of Country Ones To Watch artist’s official music video for “Prayed For You” premiered via People, has racked up over 6.3 million views! “Prayed For You” along with “Home In A Hometown,” a collaboration with Jimmie Allen, can be found on Stell’s just-released EP, Everywhere But On. Catch Matt on tour this summer at a number of major country music festivals, including Faster Horses, LakeShake, Oregon Jamboree and Watershed, before he joins Chris Young’s “Raised On Country World Tour 2019” for 19 arena and amphitheater dates from Sept. 26 through Nov. 23.

For more information on Matt Stell, visit MattStell.com.

NEWS

August 26, 2019

MIRANDA LAMBERT AND MAREN MORRIS TEAM FOR “WAY TOO PRETTY FOR PRISON”

Miranda Lambert continues her hot streak leading up to her new album Wildcard, releasing today “Way Too Pretty for Prison,” her spirited collaboration with Maren Morris.

“Karen Fairchild and I were having a wine night to talk about The Bandwagon Tour, and I always tell my friends, ‘Don’t leave if you’ve been drinking, because you’re way too pretty for prison,’ ” said Lambert. “She got a ride home at the end of the night, and the next day I had a write with The Love Junkies (Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose). I was telling them about our night, and that conversation, and they said, ‘Well that’s what we’re writing today.’ I’m so glad Maren joined me on singing this song. She sang her ass off and it was so fun to have her in the studio.”

“Way Too Pretty for Prison” is the latest glimpse into Wildcard, which will arrive Nov. 1 on Vanner Records/RCA Nashville. Listeners can pre-order and pre-add the album to their collections now. The project also features “infectious” (Billboard), Top 25 lead single “It All Comes Out in the Wash,” as well as recently-released “foot-stompin’ barnburner” (NPR) “Locomotive,” “crunchy, frisky jam” (Stereogum) “Mess with My Head,” and “irresistibly catchy” (SPIN ) “Bluebird.” 

To welcome the new artistic chapter, Lambert will hit the road for the Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars Tour this fall, with special guests Morris and Elle King, as well as Pistol Annies, Tenille Townes, Ashley McBryde and Caylee Hammack on various dates (details here). Tickets are on sale now. 

About Miranda Lambert:
Vanner Records/RCA recording artist Miranda Lambert will release her highly anticipated new studio albumWildcard Nov. 1, which includes her latest country radio single, “It All Comes Out in the Wash.” This fall, Miranda will embark on her rotating, all-girl “Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars” tour featuring Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack, and the Pistol Annies. This follows two extensive tours in 2018, “Living Like Hippies” in the winter/spring and “The Bandwagon” summer tour with Little Big Town. 

The most decorated artist in the history of the Academy of Country Music, Lambert is the recipient of more than 70 prestigious awards and special honors: 32 ACM Awards (including 9 ACM Female Vocalist of the Year Awards), 13 CMA Awards (Country Music Association), 2 GRAMMY Awards, the Harmony Award (Nashville Symphony), Artist in Residence (Country Music Hall of Fame), the ACM Gene Weed Milestone Award, and several others. 

The acclaimed singer/songwriter released six studio albums that all debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Album Charts, including the critically acclaimed double record The Weight of These Wings (2016), Platinum (2014), Four The Record (2011), Revolution (2009), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2007) and Kerosene (2005). In addition, she released three albums with her trio, the Pistol Annies. 

Her clothing and cowboy boot collection, Idyllwind, is a private-label brand sold at all Boot Barn stores nationwide. www.idyllwind.com

NEWS

August 22, 2019

SEAFORTH REIMAGINES SINGLE “LOVE THAT”

Buzzworthy new duo Seaforth has released a reimagined version of their debut single “Love That,” as well as an artistic accompanying video. Listen now.

Directed by Alex Alvga, the clip was filmed in Greenpoint Brooklyn, set against the glittering New York City skyline. Watch now.

Co-written by Seaforth (Tom Jordan, Mitch Thompson), Daniel Ross, and Michael Whitworth, “Love That” has been making waves with critics praising the “melodic, hook-filed singalong” (Billboard) as “an attractive debut” (MusicRow).

The on-the-rise duo are set to make their Grand Ole Opry debut Sept. 6, showing off their “spot-on harmonies” (Sounds Like Nashville) on country music’s most famous stage. They’ll also bring their “hook-heavy songs, layered harmonies and quick wit” (Country Now) to Wild and Wonderful Country Fest on Aug. 24 and Seven Peaks Music Festival Aug. 31. 

This fall, they’ll join Mitchell Tenpenny for the ANYTHING SHE SAYS TOUR which kicks off Oct. 10 in Nashville. Tickets are available now. 

NEWS

August 22, 2019

OLD DOMINION RELEASES NEW SONG “YOUNG” FROM LAST NIGHT’S EPISODE OF “SONGLAND”

Last night, Nashville hitmakers Old Dominion were the guest recording artists on NBC’s hit series “Songland,” as they looked for a song to be featured in a new Jeep® brand commercial. The band, along with Jeep/FCA CMO Olivier François, chose “Songland” contestant Katelyn Tarver’s“Young” to be released and featured in the 90-second Jeep® brand commercial, in which Tarver appears as a character.

“Songland” provides talented up-and-coming songwriters with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to collaborate with visionary music producers who are responsible for today’s biggest hits. 

“Songwriting is what this band is built on,” said Matthew Ramsey, frontman of Old Dominion. “Our love for writing songs and for the people who write them is what got us where we are today. We jumped at the chance to be a part of ‘Songland’ because it meant that the public would get a glimpse of what we have known for years: Without songwriters there would be no music.”

“Young” is ranked No. 3 today on the Apple Country Music chart and is now available to stream/download HERE.

Watch the Jeep® brand commercial featuring “Young” on YouTube and catch Old Dominion’s full live performance HERE.

ABOUT “SONGLAND” SONGWRITER KATELYN TARVERS: 

For more information on “Songland,” visit https://www.nbc.com/songland.

NEWS

August 21, 2019

Matt Stell to Perform “Prayed For You” on ABC’s Summer Reality Series “Bachelor In Paradise”

RECORDS/Arista Nashville recording artist Matt Stell will perform his Top 15 and rising single “Prayed For You” during a special episode of ABC’s summer reality series, Bachelor in ParadiseFilmed in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Stell’s romantic performance takes place as Bachelor in Paradise alums Krystal Neilson and Chris Randone say “I DO!” in front ofBachelor in Paradise hopefuls and other friends of the franchise. The episode is scheduled to air Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019, at 8/7c on ABC. Listen to “Prayed For You” HERE.

From the creator of The Bachelor franchise, summer series Bachelor in Paradise, now in its sixth season, features some of The Bachelor’s biggest stars and most talked-about villains. They all left The Bachelor or The Bachelorette with broken hearts, but now they know what it really takes to find love, and on Bachelor in Paradise they’ll get a second (or third) chance to find their soul mates. Living together in a dreamy oasis in Mexico, these former bachelors and bachelorettes will explore new relationships, fall in love or go through renewed heartbreak.

The romantic dating series will feature twists, shocking surprises, unexpected guests and some of the most unlikely relationships in Bachelor history, plus all the usual romance, drama and tears of the Bachelor franchise. Watch the romantic television event of the summer, airing Mondays and Tuesdays (8:00–10:01 p.m. ET) on ABC.

ABOUT MATT STELL
After playing college basketball for Drury University for four years, breakthrough country artist Matt Stell stood at a crossroads. One road led to Cambridge, MA where Stell was accepted into Harvard University’s Extension School Pre-Med program. The other road pointed toward Nashville and a career in country music. Stell made the choice to follow his dreams of writing and performing. The 6’7” Center Ridge, Arkansas native and self-taught vocalist and guitar-player made the move to Music City in 2014, landing a publishing and management deal with Wide Open Music and a record deal with music industry powerhouse Barry Weiss’ RECORDS/Arista Nashville. His debut single, “Prayed For You ,” written by Stell along with Ash Bowers and Alison Veltz, has already amassed more than 68 million digital streams, making waves on Billboard’s Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs Charts and spinning on SiriusXM’s The Highway in addition to having been featured on Spotify’s Hot Country, New Boots, Wild Country, and Country Kind Of Love playlists, Amazon’s “The Weekly One,” and Apple’s A-List Country playlist. The CMT Discovery Artist and Taste of Country Ones To Watch artist’s official music video for “Prayed For You,” which premiered via People,  has racked up more than six million views! “Prayed For You” along with “Home In A Hometown,” a collaboration with Jimmie Allen, can be found on Stell’s recent EP, Everywhere But On. Catch Stell on tour at a number of major country music festivals before he joins Chris Young’s “Raised On Country World Tour 2019” for 19 arena and amphitheater dates from Sept. 26 through Nov. 23. 

NEWS

August 16, 2019

TENILLE TOWNES’ “JERSEY ON THE WALL” DEBUTS TODAY

Acclaimed singer, songwriter and performer Tenille Townes’ new song “Jersey On The Wall” debuts today. Listen/share HERE. She recently discussed the song and the story behind it with Rolling Stone Country’s Marissa Moss, who praises, “…precise and potent lyrics full of empathy…It’s not a love song or a party song, but a moment of country music existentialism.” Read the full interview HERE. Additionally, Townes is featured on Spotify’s Hot Country Playlist this week taking fans inside her look.  

“Jersey On The Wall” comes from Townes’ forthcoming full-length debut album, which was produced by Jay Joyce and is set for release via Columbia Nashville. Previously released album tracks include “White Horse,” “I Kept The Roses” and lead single “ Somebody’s Daughter,” which reached No. 1 on both Mediabase and Nielsen BDS Country Airplay in Canada. Watch Townes perform “Somebody’s Daughter” on NBC’s “TODAY”HERE

Townes will also perform at the 2019 ACM Honors ceremony, which recognizes the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 54th annual ACM Awards. The event will take place next Wednesday, August 21 at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.  

Moreover, Townes recently participated in Cracker Barrel’s “Five Decades, One Voice” campaign—a project created to highlight the importance of women in country music by celebrating legendary female artists and those following in their footsteps. For the project, Townes was personally selected by Brandi Carlile to collaborate on new versions of two songs—Townes’ “Somebody’s Daughter ” and Carlile’s “Fulton County Jane Doe.” 

Townes is currently on the road supporting Dierks Bentley on his extensive “Burning Man Tour” and will join Miranda Lambert on her “Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars Tour” this fall. She will also perform select dates with Maren Morris in November. See below for complete tour details. 

Already receiving widespread attention, Townes has been named iHeartCountry’s “On The Verge” artist and has been included in Amazon Music’s “2019 Artists To Watch,” CMT’s “Next Women of Country,” iHeart Radio’s “Artists To Watch in 2019,” “The Bobby Bones Show’s” “Class of 2019,” CMT’s “Listen Up” and the inaugural class of “Opry NextStage.” 

Canadian-born and Nashville-based, Townes first made her public appearance at age nine alongside Shania Twain after being invited to sing on stage at a concert she attended with her parents. In addition to her work as a musician and songwriter, Townes remains committed to charitable causes including her own initiative, Big Hearts For Big Kids, which has raised over $1.5 million to date benefiting a youth shelter in her hometown of Grande Prairie, Alberta. More information can be found at bigheartsforbigkids.com.