Kane Brown was surprised late last week with four RIAA certification plaques while cutting vocals at Sound Stage studio on Music Row. In March, Brown’s sophomore album Experiment and its lead single “Lose It” were certified Gold and Platinum, respectively. Last week, “Good As You” was certified Platinum and Kane Brown’s current single “Homesick” Gold.

Singer/songwriter Matt Stell achieves his first No. 1 on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart with his debut single, “Prayed for You” (Wide Open/RECORDS/Good Company/Arista Nashville), marking the only debut single from an artist to hit the summit on Country Airplay in 2019. Stell breaks the longest dry spell between debut No. 1s since 2014; Jimmie Allen’s “Best Shot” went No. 1 on Nov. 24, 2018.

Penned by Stell, Ash Bowers (also Stell’s manager) and Allison Veltz, “Prayed For You” leaps from No. 8 to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, its highest position to date. The song has amassed 99 Million streams and was certified Gold by the RIAA last month.

“It’s hard to believe that ‘Prayed for You’ is Billboard’s No. 1 country song in the U.S. this week,” exclaimed Matt Stell upon hearing the news. “I won’t be able to ever thank my fellow writers, Ash Bowers and Allison Veltz, and my RECORDS/Arista Nashville/Wide Open/GCE team enough.”

Arista Nashville artist/songwriter Robert Counts celebrated the release of his self-titled EP Friday with a party for student songwriters, musicians and performers at the Notes For Notes recording studio at the Boys & Girls Club of San Francisco Excelsior Clubhouse. Listen to the EP HERE.

Counts toured the San Francisco studio, performed several songs from the EP, and answered questions about his rising career while students in Austin, Denver, and Minneapolis listened in. Since 2014, Notes for Notes has been a recipient of $2 million in funding from the CMA Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association that works to ensure every child has access to a high-quality music education by supporting music educators and innovative music education programs across the U.S.

With the release of his self-titled, five-song EP, Counts comes into his own as an artist writing from an authentic place about simple themes that give a deeper meaning to the ordinary. Produced by Jimmy Ritchey and Dann Huff , Counts holds nothing back from parental life advice in “Backseat Driver,” to the sweet anticipation of “Someone In My Someday,” the sexy, take-you-as-you-are “Dress Up,” the yearning/hopefulness of “Better People,” and the smoldering soul of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.” To coincide with the EP release and as part of his “Live In Nashville” series, Counts released a live version of the Gnarls Barkley cover. Listen HERE.

Next week, Robert leaves for Germany and four shows in Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Berlin before returning for several stateside dates through the end of the year. Click HERE for tour information.

Columbia Nashville/River House Artists’ Jameson Rodgers is the latest artist named to Vevo’s all-genre DSCVR program that celebrates promising new talent. 

Watch Rodgers perform special live versions of his debut single “Some Girls” and “gritty ballad” (Sounds Like Nashville) “Like You’ve Been There Before” here. Vevo DSCVR focuses on the development of emerging artists, through performance content and careful curation. Vevo has a long history of helping emerging artists break through to new and wider audiences. Vevo is committed to working with artists at an early stage of their career to create unique content that brings their music to life visually and provides exposure to new audiences through the platform. Past alumni of Vevo’s DSCVR series include Billie Eilish, Duckwrth and Kiana Ledé.

Fresh off his recent debut at the famed Grand Ole Opry, Rodgers is celebrating his first No. 1 as a songwriter as Chris Lane’s “I Don’t Know About You,” – which Rodgers co-wrote with Ashley Gorley, HARDY and Hunter Phelps – reached the top of the Billboard Country Airplay and Mediabase/Country Aircheck charts this week. 

Meanwhile, Rodgers was surprised Wednesday afternoon with two commemorative plaques signifying his songwriting prowess, as “I Don’t Know About You” is officially certified Gold, while the Rodgers-penned “Talk You Out of It” (recorded by Florida Georgia Line) is Platinum. 

Rodgers continues to be a force on the road, opening for Luke Combs’ sold-out BEER NEVER BROKE MY HEAR TOUR throughout the fall, including two-night stints at both LA’s Greek Theatre and Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

RECORDS/Arista Nashville artist/songwriter Matt Stell released the music video for “Home In A Hometown” today. The homage to Friday nights in small towns everywhere features country artist Jimmie Allen. 

Stell premiered the video on YouTube and chatted with fans prior to the premiere. Watch it HERE.

Allen contributed vocals to the track, which is featured on Stell’s current seven-track EP, Everywhere But On. The EP also features Stell’s current single “Prayed For You,” which is certified Gold and currently a No. 3 hit at country radio. Download and stream HERE.

Marking another massive career milestone, Luke Combs is set to headline his first ever stadium show at Appalachian State University’s Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, NC on May 2, 2020. 

Tickets for the show—which will feature special guests Ashley McBryde and Drew Parker—will be available for verified pre-sale starting next Tuesday, October 8 at 2:00 p.m. ET with general on-sale following on Friday, October 11 at 10:00 a.m. ET. Combs’ official fan club, The Bootleggers, will once again have early access to tickets through Ticketmaster Verified Fan pre-sale starting next Tuesday, October 8 at 10:00 a.m. ET.

The stadium show is part of Combs’ newly confirmed WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET TOUR. The 2020 run continues Combs’ historic success on the road with all ten of the first concerts selling-out immediately after going on-sale this past Friday including two record-breaking feats: 

-Lexington KY’s Rupp Arena sold-out in 12 minutes—breaking the record for the fastest sell-out in the venue’s 43-year history (previously set by Paul McCartney)
-University Park, PA’s Bryce Jordan Center broke the venue’s record for fastest single-show sell-out (previously held by Luke Bryan)

The new tour celebrates Combs’ highly anticipated new album What You See Is What You Get, which will be released November 8 via River House Artists/Columbia Nashville (pre-order here). Each pre-order includes an instant download of new track, “1, 2 Many” featuring Brooks & Dunn, as well as the five tracks previously released as part Combs’ The Prequel EP.  

Produced by Scott Moffatt, What You See Is What You Get features 17 songs including the five tracks previously released via The Prequel EP earlier this summer. The EP debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart with all five tracks charting on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Top 25—a feat not accomplished by any artist in 60 years since Johnny Cash in 1959. The release also propelled Combs to the largest streaming week ever for a country artist with 73 million on-demand streams (week ending June 13). Additionally, 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).

Adding to his historic year, 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 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT.

Moreover, Combs’ new single “Even Though I’m Leaving” was recently shipped to country radio and continues to receive widespread critical acclaim. Of the song, The New York Times declares, “Luke Combs has one of the most emotionally tactile voices in contemporary country music…even at his most tender, Combs is firm, stepping into the rawness of the feeling, not away from it.” Watch/share the official music video HERE.

What You See Is What You Get is the follow up to Combs’ breakthrough double Platinum debut, This One’s For You, which has spent 48 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart—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.

The official music video for Tenille Townes’ new single, “Jersey On The Wall,” debuted Monday. Watch/share HERE. Directed by Mason Dixon, the video premiered on YouTube following a chat between Townes and her fans. 

Of the video, Townes shares, “Leaving space in this video for people to insert their own emotions and think of people in their own stories was so important to me. There’s an anchor of light coming in through the gym window, across the lockers and in the hallways that represents the ever-present hope that is still there, even in the darkest of losses. We were able to use the actual jerseys of Danielle and Drayton, who were both the inspiration behind this song. It was so emotional seeing both of their #9s hanging there during the video shoot and it means so much to have their jerseys be such a big part.” 

“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. Of Townes, Billboard praises, “…knack for writing story songs that make the listener stop and think,” whileMusic Row declares, “Tenille Townes is the future. Get on board now.” 

The release adds to a breakout year for Townes, who recently won four awards at the 2019 Canadian Country Music Awards: Female Artist of the Year, Single of the Year (“Somebody’s Daughter”), Anthem Entertainment Songwriter of the Year and Video of the Year (“Somebody’s Daughter”). Winning all four of her nominated categories, Townes lead the night with the most awards received.  

In support of the new music, Townes will join Miranda Lambert on her “Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars Tour” this fall and will perform select dates with Maren Morris in November. Click here for complete tour details. 

Additionally, 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.” 

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 $1.9 million to date benefiting a youth shelter in her hometown of Grande Prairie, Alberta. More information can be found at bigheartsforbigkids.com.

Jameson Rodgers made his debut at the historic Grand Ole Opry Wednesday night, surrounded by friends, family, and extended team. 

“I can’t believe this is actually happening,” Rodgers told the crowd. “I moved to Nashville nine years ago and I made some goals for myself. One was to sign a record deal, the other was to write a hit song, and the other was to play the Grand Ole Opry. 2019 has been my year. I signed a record deal in January with Sony Records and River House. I’m a songwriter on the No. 2 song at country radio right now. And I’m standing in the circle. I say that with all the humility in the world, cause it’s been quite a journey getting to this point and it hasn’t always been easy, but I think that’s the way life’s supposed to be.”

Rodgers performed his debut single “Some Girls” – which recently hit 35 million on-demand streams – as well as fan-favorite “Missing One” and unreleased ballad “Desert.” 

The hard-touring entertainer – who is a co-writer on Chris Lane’s Top 2 smash “I Don’t Know About You” – has been rocking crowds across the country on his summer headlining trek. Thursday night he returned to Luke Combs’ BEER NEVER BROKE MY HEART TOUR as the fall leg kicked off in Rogers, AR. Rodgers will open for Combs at iconic venues including two-night stands at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA and Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

Multi-Platinum artist Chris Young adds to his impressive resume today as he makes his directorial debut with the music video for his newest hit, “Drowning.” Co-directed with Native 31 Films Producer and Director Jeff Johnson, the stirring clip opens with Young holding a photo of Adam Carnes, his longtime friend whose loss is memorialized in the song’s “soul-shattering lyrics.” Young chatted with his fans on YouTube before the premiere of his new video. Watch it HERE.

With a universal message that gives voice to the often-overwhelming emotions of grief, interspersed throughout the “Drowning” music video are moving tributes to spouses, children, parents, siblings and friends from concertgoers at the Richmond, VA date of his “Raised On Country World Tour 2019.”

Already a favorite in his live show, Young was compelled to film his performance of the song at MGM Grand Garden Arena during his first headlining show in Las Vegas in nearly two years. Fans raised their phones to light the arena as the performance served to honor the victims and fellow survivors of Route 91 Harvest Festival. 

“I’ve been so amazed at the reaction to this song,” said Young. “I wrote it with two friends as a moment of healing and had no idea it would touch so many people before it was even chosen as a single. The video, combining so many personal moments alongside a live performance, totally embodies that and I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”

With its raw lyrics and vulnerable vocals exposing the realities of loss and grief, “Drowning,” along with “ Raised On Country” and “Town Ain’t Big Enough,” featuring Lauren Alaina, are available now and will be included on his upcoming studio album.

Arista Nashville’s The Sisterhood Band has released their “Get Up And Go” music video. Co-producers and co-writers of the track, The Sisterhood Band’s Alyssa Bonagura and Ruby Stewart wrote the treatment for the video. Co-directed by Jessica Amerson and Dallas Wilson, the music video can be viewed HERE.

The clip’s vividly colorful images and lyric-specific scenes were captured while the duo and country power-station KKGO “Go Country 105” partnered on a multiple-week promotion campaign in support of “Get Up And Go” in Los Angeles, including KKGO listener events at the Porsche Experience Center Los Angeles and La Peer Kimpton Hotel, on-air interviews and social takeovers as well as a television appearance on KTLA’s Morning News.

“We brought in two of our best friends, Dallas Wilson and Jessica Amerson, to help make this video with us,” remarked duo member Alyssa Bonagura. “We wanted people to get a real feel for who we are and what it would be like to take a road trip with us,” she added with a chuckle. “The clothes, the locations, the dancing, and the shenanigans is 100% exactly how we are in real life and hope our fans have as much fun watching it as we did making it!”

The Sisterhood Band’s Ruby Stewart responded, “This video means a lot to me – being a California native! We chose some our favorite locations along California’s Golden Coast, because that’s what inspired the song. We wanted our first music video to feel truly like US, so we styled and glammed it ourselves.” Stewart enthused, “Also, collaborating with people you love, like Jessica and Dallas, makes it easy to be yourself. We had absolutely brilliant time shooting this music video. I hope this stirs some restless feeling in your bones and you get up and go. The world is out there waiting for you, all you need is a ‘69 Cadillac with mounted longhorns!”